I was 18 years old when I began to notice little floaters and my parents began to notice that I was tripping over things. I went to several doctors in both Calgary, where I was living, and in Ottawa, where I moved at age 19. I was finally diagnosed with RP in Kingston when I was 21. It was somewhat of a relief to know that it "wasn't in my mind" as some had suggested. I was referred to an opthamologist in Ottawa who immediately told me I was legally blind and must stop driving. Of course I felt I could still drive, and continued to do so during the daytime for a few years. At the time I was employed as a secretary at City Hall in Pembroke, Ontario and had a new sports car. Up until that time my life was happy and I was untouched by the grim realities of the world. I decided that I could no longer work as a secretary. I sold my car and quit my job and returned to university where I got an undergraduate degree in law with a concentration in criminology and criminal justice. I married and became employed as a probation and parole officer. I was still driving and life was great. I forgot about my problem until it started deteriorating further. When I quit driving I was confined more to the office and I became very frustrated. I had difficulty with paperwork and in concentrating. After my daughter was born in 1994 I was exhausted and became depressed. I worried that I might not be a good mother because of what I thought were my limitations. I left work in 1995 and thankfully had a long term income protection plan. I remained quite depressed and felt isolated after leaving work. As a Christian I felt guilty that I could not see the good things in my life. In 1997 I decided to get on with life and started some rehabilitation with the C.N.I.B. Then my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer, two weeks later my horse died, two weeks later my husband was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, then during my dad's lengthy hospitalization in Ottawa my mom had heart problems and was hospitalized in Pembroke. Through all of this I became a walking zombie but my brothers and sister continued to help me with my burdens and said they would always look after me. In November 1997 my youngest brother, with whom I was especially close, was killed tragically in a car accident. For over a year the grief consumed me ....but I sure put my RP in perspective. He did alot of fundraising for RP and always tried to get me to see the positive things in my life. During the last couple of months I have felt stronger..from my faith in God, the prayers of others, and I think strength from my brother. I still hate the fact that I can't drive but I'm beginning to enjoy life a bit more now. I have recently purchased another horse who is trained by voice commands. Her previous owner is completely deaf and she's the most positive and energetic person I have ever met. I only have to watch the horse's ears with my tunnel vision and she'll do the rest. I know I'll start to feel more independent and alive again. My brother's death has taught me that having RP certainly isn't the worst thing that can happen to a person. I have recently returned from a trip to Toronto to see my opthamologist at Sick Kids and found out my field has narrowed again. I'm not even upset!!!"I can do anything through Him who gives me strength."