Geof Collis

At this writing, I am 42 years old, and have been legally blind for 15 yrs. I was diagnosed when I was 27. I first found out I had R.P., through a simple field vision test. Boy what a shocker. One day your feeling on top of the world, next, it all comes crashing down around you.

My opthalmologist wasn't exactly very kind in his delivery of my condition, either. It's like they say, "What you don't know, won't hurt you." One day your playing the best hockey of your life, next, you can't do anything right. I spent the next 3 months asking all the usual questions. Why me, blah blah blah. I would try to make my eyes work. Finally I just accepted it and went back to the way I was, sort of. Once you find out, it's never the same again.

I was driving at the time, so it was easy to get back to a somewhat normal life. As I grew older my eyesight started to deteriorate, and so I had to change my life with it. At 33 my night vision was getting so bad, I wasn't sure if I was turning into a side street or the ditch. I was driving a lot for my job, so I decided to ask them to help me to adjust, by not having to drive and just work in the one store. Yeah right! Their answer was to fire me. Luckily I had a Long Term Disability plan to fall back on (later on the insurance Co. would put the screws to me as well). Insurance Companies, or Government for that matter, should not be allowed to tell the disabled what to do with their lives. Until they walk a mile in our shoes they should respect our condition, and all the obstacles that go with it.

Life is always dealing you curveballs, but you have to be able to deal with it. In retrospect, the Insurance Company treating me like crap, turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Settling with them allowed me to set my own agenda, I was able to get married and buy my dream home in the country. I find the country to be less stressful, no utility poles to walk into, no cars trying to run me down in intersections, no crowded malls, nothing but wide open spaces, and fresh air. Aaaaahhh!!!!!

My eyes are getting worse, but it's easier to deal with, when life is not so 'In your face'. I feel living in the rural area has bought me a little more eyesight

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