[Blindtlk] Encouraging Medical Students To Be Retina Doctors

Tue Feb 21 03:09:04 UTC 2012

Mark,
As you said, nearly impossible and a logistical nightmare,
nevertheless, I am SLOWLY working on it. I mean putting $30 or $50 or
$5 away every month, putting away whatever I can afford to get myself
there.
Michelle

On 2/20/12, Mark J. Cadigan <kramc11 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Michelle
>
>
>
> I would agree that not being able to drive a car when you live in an area
> with no public transportation is a hindrance. Have you ever considered
> relocating to an area with public transportation? I know that that is a
> logistical nightmare and nearly impossible in some situations, but getting
> there, is well worth it.
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michelle Medina" <michellem86 at gmail.com>
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, February 20, 2012 9:55 PM
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Encouraging Medical Students To Be Retina Doctors
>
>
>> Johanna,
>> First off, allow me to say that I was born without eyes and therefore
>> have never had eyesight. However, if you will accept my word for what
>> it's worth, the story goes that you 'can't miss what you do not have'.
>> I'd venture to say at least partially that this is a falsehood.
>>
>> I live in a rural area and am unable to drive a car. Most people
>> think: "So what. You can't drive a car, big deal."
>> What they think and sometimes say is NOT how I feel. I feel like it's
>> a huge deal. There is no transportation *no buses and noone available
>> to drive me somewhere to catch a bus* even that isn't the route of it
>> though.
>>
>> My best friend is also legally blind though she does have some sight.
>> We used to sit in what would have been her car on her sixteenth
>> birthday if she would have been able to get her license and crank the
>> stereo in the dead of summer with the windows down just to imagine the
>> feeling of freedom, the roadtrips we would take, the growing up we
>> would have done over the course of a spring break or a summer spent
>> roadtripping around the country.
>> Ovbiously, as blind individuals we can still do this, however, to me
>> it is the 'absolute freedom' of getting up and leaving exactly when I
>> Desire to versus waiting for someone else. It is the 'absolute
>> freedom' of walking into my parents room and saying: "I'm going to
>> visit Elias now, I'll be back in a couple of hours!" versus waiting
>> for one of them to drop me off. It's getting out of the car and
>> walking into Walmart and reading the labels on food products and
>> picking out what I believe to be the healthiest choice versus going in
>> with a companion whose in a hurry, or waiting at the customer service
>> desk for an hour and 15 minutes. *Note: our Walmart doesn't have
>> shoppers as I said I'm in a rural place, and I like alot of people
>> live off of SSI so don't have the money to buy a label reader*
>>
>> Ultimately though, it isn't about money anyway, or even convenience,
>> though I would find these things convenient, who wouldn't? Smile.
>>
>> It really boils down to the feeling I got the first time I tied my
>> shoes or the first time I rode a horse by myself or the first time I
>> Brailled up something without needing any help. It's that "I can do
>> this!!!" feeling that I get. That feeling of as I said before,
>> absolute freedom and excitement that I didn't rely on anyone, I did it
>> myself!! And I'm sooooo proud of myself for doing whatever thing it
>> might be, ON MY OWN! There's nothing like that feeling. You can't buy
>> it or have it given to you or find it in a food or pill or even
>> another person. You can only find it within yourself.
>> And if I had my eyesight and could experience the glory of a
>> sunset/rise, or of looking into someone's eyes and seeing through to
>> the depths of their soul, or laying eyes on my baby daughter for the
>> first time, or the person who would become my romantic partner I can
>> only imagine the exhilaration and excitement and utter pleasure it
>> would bring me.
>> Michelle
>>
>> On 2/20/12, Johanna Baccan <24kjo at optonline.net> wrote:
>>> To All:
>>>
>>> I was asked by Dr. Steven  Sang one of the top Retina Doctors at Columbia
>>> Presbyterian  Hospital in New York City, new York  to speak to Columbia
>>> University Medical Students.  He wants me to encourage them to become
>>> Retina
>>> Doctors and Retina Researchers.     I am a 54 year old woman and have a
>>> unusual form of Stargardt's Disease and have been visually impaired for
>>> 34
>>> years.  I know that we all have mastered some if not all the Techniques
>>> of
>>> Blindness.  But my talk is going to be on what it would mean to regain my
>>> vision and what I have missed out on for 34 years.  I would like to hear
>>> from all of you to let me know what it would mean to you to have or
>>> regain
>>> your vision.  What struggles have you had.  There has been a declined in
>>> Medical Students to become Retina Doctors and Researchers in this
>>> country.
>>> As a whole the Blind Community seems to function in a way that people
>>> don't
>>> realize how difficult it really is.  So instead of talking how I mastered
>>> the Techniques of Blindness I have to talk about the reality of vision
>>> loss.
>>> These students are exposed to other patients with diseases that are much
>>> more visible and pronounced then our vision loss.  At times my particular
>>> eye disease has been called a Hidden handicap.  Because to look at me
>>> even
>>> though I use a cane I do not look visually impaired at all.  Any
>>> suggestions
>>> or comments would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.
>>>
>>> Sincerely,
>>>
>>> Johanna Baccan
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet
>> confinement of your aloneness
>> to learn anything or anyone
>> that does not bring you alive
>> is too small for you.
>> ~ David Whyte ~ (House of Belonging)
>>
>> Sadie Marie Medina!
>> Original birthdate unnone.
>> First birthday with us: 2/15/2009
>> Welcome home baby!
>>
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>
>
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-- 
Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet
confinement of your aloneness
to learn anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive
is too small for you.
~ David Whyte ~ (House of Belonging)

Sadie Marie Medina!
Original birthdate unnone.
First birthday with us: 2/15/2009
Welcome home baby!