Audrey's story - living with sight loss

In this story: Sight loss / Services and Support /

"If I can help one person, then that's great. My week is done, if I can do that."

“When that advice phone goes and somebody looks for help, needs advice, or they’re distraught because they’ve found out that they’ve just been diagnosed with an eye condition, the information line is there for me to listen.

Now I’m not a qualified counsellor, but living with sight loss for 26 years, totally blind, I know all the emotions. All the frustrations, the anger, the losing your patience, relationships, work, losing friendships, all that I have experienced. And I can empathise with people, and what I get back is that they appreciate speaking to somebody that really knows what it’s like. If I can help one person, then that’s great. My week is done, if I can do that.

I personally have never wanted my blindness to stop me from being me, because it’s important that you still stay that same person. But when I lost my sight, I lost my job, I lost my driving licence, I couldn’t do it, so everything just stopped. I was panicked. I was frightened about the future. But I have to thank my family for the love and support, and that is something that is so important to help you cope with anything.

I could not be the person I am without my husband. When I was expecting my second child, I was adamant that this baby had to know that his mum was going to fumble and do things a lot slower. I didn’t want my husband, my mum, my sister, or anybody else to take the baby, change the nappy and do all that. The first night I came out of hospital, my baby was up three times, and I was feeding and changing him for hours. I didn’t know at the time, but my husband, he lay there desperate to turn and help. But by the third change, when the nappies were all piled up, then he turned and said to me, “well done, Audrey. I was awake the whole time and I was desperate to help you, but I needed to know that you could cope”. And between my husband and my rehabilitation officer, they pushed me and pushed me – and it was tough. But the support I have there, from my mum, my brother, my sister and other family members has been so great and supportive.

Losing your sight is not life threatening, but it is life changing. And I don’t think anybody ever accepts it, but you learn to adapt and adjust and do things slowly and differently, and every day is a challenge, every hour is a challenge. But if you can stick with that until you’ve mastered it, pat yourself on the back and go, “right, I’ve done brilliant. I’m not going to let this visual impairment, sight loss, beat me, get the better of me”, and then move on to the next thing. And that will give you courage, confidence, and allow you to keep your independence, which is so, so important.”

This story has been shared as a part of the ALLIANCE’s Concert For Caring story special – you can read the full publication here.

More information about Visibility Scotland can be found on their website.

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