JP has been a musician his whole life. “If you ask me ‘who is JP?’ I’d say music. I just love listening to it, but especially playing it and singing. All of it!’”
In 2019, after suffering a massive heart attack, JP was given a blood thinner in preparation for surgery. Unfortunately, the blood thinner caused a stroke, a brain bleed. The left side of his body was significantly weakened and his vision immediately impaired.
A testament to JP’s love of music occurred in the hospital. “When I was in the ICU and they weren’t sure I was going to survive, I asked my wife to go get my guitar. She was surprised by the request and unsure whether the hospital would allow it, but she did get it. I just needed to play a few chords to make sure I still could.”
Fortunately, JP did survive and regained most of the use of his left leg and arm. His vision, however, did not improve. Reading is extremely difficult for him, and he needed to learn how to use a white cane in order not to fall when walking.
“One thing I learned is that people who go through vision loss, go through mourning for that loss. Understanding that mourning helped me understand all the emotions, the sadness I was experiencing,” JP explains.
His vision continues to change with time, which has meant a continual stage of adjustment for JP. “Just when I’m getting used to it or getting over it, here we go again...more vision loss."
Most recently JP has developed extreme light sensitivity which he manages by wearing dark sunglasses and often secluding himself in his dark music studio. “This adjustment has brought with it loneliness. No one else really wants to sit in a dark room but it’s where I often feel most comfortable,” he explains.
Two and a half years into his journey, JP was looking for others facing vision loss when he found the National Federation for the Blind (NFB). He and his wife attended a meeting of their local chapter, and continue to this day to be very active with the group.
JP also found the Colorado Department of Vocational Rehabilitation where he is learning, among other things, braille. They introduced JP to Hadley and are helping him work through our Braille for Everyday Use workshops. “The lessons have been nothing short of wonderful. It was fun telling my wife and sons, ‘I learned my ABC’s today,’” JP says.
In addition to being involved with the NFB, JP is also a proud member of the Lions International and Leader Dogs for the Blind. He is on the waiting list to get a guide dog through Leader Dogs, too. As he wants others to not spend so much time looking for help, JP is doing his part sharing information and resources along with the way and fundraising for guide dogs through a couple of websites he created www.HelpMeFindHelp.com and www.RJDspiritrings.com.
JP is one to freely share his story and struggles in hopes that he can help others who may be going through similar challenges.
“Whatever you're going through, seek out others going through the same thing,” is advice JP shares. “My family is great. They don’t put stuff in my way anymore because otherwise I’ll run into it. I get enough bruises on my own, he jokes. As much as they love me, they don’t know firsthand what I’m going through. When you’re with others with similar vision issues and hear someone else say ‘that’s normal’ you think ‘Okay. Good.’”
JP observes that having a good sense of humor has been a huge help. “My favorite joke is: A blind man walks into a bar...and a table....and a chair!”
“I’m still learning to live with this. Every day is filled with its own challenges, which are not unique to me, but still new to me. I’m working on accepting these changes, even though acceptance is a huge challenge,” JP shares.