My Ten In Ten

It literally feels as though time is flying by, and truer as the person ages. It’s hard for me to believe that it has been ten years since my loss of sight. Through these years, I have experienced a great deal of things; many for the first time. All of my experiences enabled me to have a broader outlook on life and treasure what life has to offer. To give you a better glimpse into my life, I have compiled a list of ten things that I have experienced for the first time within this past decade. So, here it goes: 1. I became an aunt for the first time. Ok, although, my niece was born a month before my loss of sight, I would be remiss if I didn’t include her on my list. 2. I bought my first white cane. To me, the white cane is not only a traveling tool for blind individuals, but it is also a symbolic representation of how one has left the sighted world. I didn’t have any reservation about carrying my cane because I felt awkward without it. Before I had my cane, many people thought I was being rude if I was standing in their way, failing to realize that I could not see them. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have grown to rely on my cane, and it is my trusty friend! 3. I made my first television appearance on KMGH – Channel 7 10:15 Difference. I am very thankful to former Executive Producer of Channel 7 News, Jeff Harris, for providing me with the opportunity to share my story with individuals across the state of Colorado. I was able to communicate my thoughts/feelings regarding everything I went through with my medical condition and loss of sight. 4. I became a first time voter. No matter what political affiliation a person is, if any at all, I truly believe it is important for everyone to take part in the legislative process. As we all know, one vote counts and can make a difference. This was a long waited, momentous time in my life. 5. I attended my first hydrocephalus conference. For of those of you who do not know, hydrocephalus is a medical condition that I have, and is the cause behind my loss of sight. Attending the conferences allows my family and I to learn about recent research updates, attend various informational workshops, share perspectives, meet new people, and visit with old friends. To be continued next time…