Team -Fight for Sight
The teams Stephen,Pamela & Julianna Wick
We are raising funds for guide dogs. This is a charity close to my heart.
I have an eye condition known as Retinitis Pigmentosis. You probably have never heard of it neither had i till i was diagnosed at 13yrs old.
For years I had been complaining of not being able to see in the dark but I was told no one can see it the dark but I really couldn’t see in dim light or at night.
Finally after a holiday in Rhodes with my Mum and Dad they realised something wasn’t right.
After lots of tests and eye drops ,light being shone into my eyes they finally diagnosed RP.
I was told I would probably be blind by the time I was in my 40s. That didn’t happen thankfully .
I had for years been advised to get registered as partially sighted by my Opthalmologist which I gratefully refused ,I can’t I’m a nurse I still want to work no matter what they advised my answer was No.
I had my routine eye appointment in Oct 2019
I explained I was struggling with going down stairs I was out with the family in a big depth store and I stood at the top of the flight of stairs and couldn’t see the actual stairs.
He advised that the changes were a progression of my condition and I shouldi really consider getting registered as partially sighted I reluctantly agreed.
19th Dec 2019 my registration came through I opened the letter and my world fell apart.
My eyesight had progressed to an extent that I was now registered as severely sight impaired (Blind).
Covid struck and for the last 2 years I could manage to hide the fact my eye sight was fading.
In Sept 2022 I got my first long cane (white stick) known as Kevin the cane.
Without the cane and my family I would not be able to live my life as I do .
Things are getting more difficult but for years I have seen this as a challenge to myself not a negative .
The biggest challenge has been for me to be brave enough to walk out with my white cane in hand and seeing meeting people I know and explaining why I have a white stick.
Each day I’m getting a bit braver not folding the stick away when I see someone coming I know.