With the New Year upon us, the quandary of what it holds stands in front of us. 2017 sure had it’s up s and downs and through it all, my family is closer, stronger and more connected than ever before.
2017 held my diagnosis, declaration of being Legally Blind and the exceptionally difficult adjustments, acceptance and reality of what Retinitis Pigmentosa holds. As we close the chapter on 2017, we still have a very long road ahed of us in terms of adjusting our lives to my visual impairment and of course the constant trials and tribulations of accepting that our world isn’t going to be what I thought it was going to.
Things are going to be different for me, my family and my children but that isn’t all negative. With this new adjustment in our lives, my daughter already and continues to show understanding, compassion and overwhelming helpfulness for her Dad who just can’t see well. My wife has shown her strength, dedication and amazing level of support as we make life adjustments that not only need to happen, but are best for us. Without these two wonderful women in my life, I truly don’t know how i’d be handling all of this… They are my rock, through and through.
2017 also held our inception of our 2nd child, at 18 weeks, we aren’t sure if it’s a boy or girl but whatever that little nugget is, we can’t wait to meet it. There is no greater joy I have ever felt in comparison to being a father and I can’t wait to do it again with my family, closer than ever before.
My mother and father are in good health and while the diagnosis didn’t come as such as a surprise to my father, who also suffers from poor and challenging vision, but my mother still doesn’t like it and I truly believe she would do anything to take this away from me. Their love and support have been invaluable and I am beyond grateful for their help on this new adventure.
Our extended family has accepted the reality that I don’t see well and everyone, from parents in law to the youngest of nieces and nephews are not only aware but cognitive that their extended relative is going blind. Their love and willingness to help at family events and time spent together is appreciated beyond comprehension.
While going blind isn’t the first choice, all of the above have shown me a love and comfort with this challenge that I truly couldn’t have imagined before seeing it first hand. My friends are like family to me and their willingness to be there, not only emotionally but to also help when needed speaks worlds about who they are, their values and the bond awe have made throughout the years of adventures together.
I am a lucky man. I am a grateful man. I am a truly humbled man.
As we bring in the New Year, questions abound but a sense of confidence is there and new to me. A sense that, no matter how fast my vision deteriorates, we got this. We can handle this and we will make this adventure the best it can be, no matter the challenges that arise.
My Visual Goals for 2018 are:
- Begin mobility and cane education
- To begin learning braille and other assistive tolls
- To go “Public” with my Visual Impairment in my professional and personal realms
- To connect and meet other positive and successful individuals with similar impairments
- Work smarter, not harder in my business to allow for less eye fatigue and eye exhaustion, thus allowing more energy for my family
- To seek help, both physical and mental, when it’s needed
The New Year makes a new opportunity to not only better ones self but also to reevaluate the reality in which you reside and to maximize ones quality of life. My New Year is looking fantastic and with goals in mind, tasks to complete and blessing abundant, I’m ready to make 2018 our best year yet.
Let’s do this.
Cheers to the New Year and best wishes to you, your family and friends.