I lost the sight in my right eye in 1989 due to a bleed at the back of the eye.  Although devastated I picked myself up and managed well with sight in only my left eye for another 23 years.  During that time I got married, had two beautiful daughters, held down a full-time job, first with Shell and then with a company I set up with my husband, Steve.  We lived life as though there was no disability, taking the girls to dance classes, swimming lessons, horse riding lessons, Rainbow, Guides, etc. the same as any other mum. 

One Sunday afternoon in May 2012 I experienced blurred vision and immediately knew there was something seriously wrong.  I went to A&E and was told that I had a bleed in the back of the eye, similar to the one I'd had in my right eye all those years ago.  Two days later my sight began to close down.  Despite countless visits to the hospital to see various doctors and specialists who looked at every aspect of my lifestyle and family history they couldn't tell me why this was happening to me and or how we could stop the deteriorating sight.  During that time I was put in touch with the people at Guide Dogs.  With training from Ruth and Maureen I managed to be matched with a dog called Obie. 

Just before Christmas 2013 following three operations I lost the final shapes and shadows that I'd had for the past 19 months.  At 52 years of age I was totally blind.  Due to the total loss of sight Obie was no longer suitable for me and went back to be given to another blind person.  This was the most terrifying time of my life.  I grieved for those things I'll never see again; day break, sunsets, the faces of my daughters, my husband and my parents.  Life looked to hold no future.  But Guide Dogs were still there for me and after a while I started training again for another dog.  I've been training now for what seems like an eternity but sooner or later the right dog will come along.  I hope that by raising money for the organisation I can in some small way repay to Guide Dogs the support and hope that they have given me over the past three years.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.  Please give whatever you can to support me, to support Guide Dogs.

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