[il-talk] Fw: [nfb-talk] Marsha Lindsey, now Drenth, QUEST FOR SIGHT--her story

Fri Nov 12 20:53:00 UTC 2010

Hi Debbie and all,  Here's my two cents on this matter.  Although some
people probably didn't like At First Sight, it did something very positive
for my mom.  Until she saw that movie, there was a part of her that hoped I
would be able to see.  But seeing that movie taught her to never feel sorry
for a blind person.  As a result, she's come to gain a gradual exceptance to
my blindness. I also agree that it's one's own right to try the new medical
procedures out there for restoring vision.  As for me, I would never try
them but that's my call.  I think this story is very interesting and if
anything, it makes my belief even stronger that if a chance to get sight
came my way, I wouldn't take it.
Leslie
Leslie

-----Original Message-----
From: il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Deborah Kent Stein
Sent: Friday, November 12, 2010 1:16 PM
To: Multiple recipients of NFBnet il-talk Mailing List
Subject: [il-talk] Fw: [nfb-talk] Marsha Lindsey, now Drenth, QUEST FOR
SIGHT--her story

>From time to time the topic of medical procedures for restoring vision
comes 
up on various NFB listservs, sparking sometimes heated exchanges about the 
pros and cons.  This post was forwarded to me from another list, and I think

it is worth sharing.

Debbie

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On
Behalf Of Marsha Drenth
Sent: Friday, November 05, 2010 12:21 PM
To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
Subject: [nfb-talk] Something to think about Re: Fw:
Implanted chip allows blind people to detect objects'

I have been following this thread for a while now. I don't know about
this
device to say if it should be used or not, nor will I say that anyone of
you
is right or wrong. But I want everyone to read my story, it will just
give
you something to think about.

I grew up most of my life visually impaired. I learned Braille and had
to
use a cane. In 1999, I lost all of my vision. Completely, no light, no
shadows, nothing. It wasn't a sudden change, it was over night. So as I
am
sure you can imagine, I was a bit thrown off. Yes I had the tools to
live as
a blind person, using a cane, reading Braille, cleaning and so on. In
early
2000, I started looking for an "fix" to which would give me back vision.
In
2000, I entered in a very new medical protocol, of stem cell cornea
transplants. I was the first in the state of Texas, and with my eye
disease
to have this procedure.  After I had received my transplant of both, I
was
able to see 20/40. For the first time I was able to see normally. It did
take me some time to adjust. Like for example, I had never seen shadows
in
the sun, or that there was so much detail to leaves on a tree, or that
people wore glasses. For the first time, I was able to read regular
sized
print. I went to get my driver's license, and I drove for 4 years. After
a
year and half, my first set of tissue rejected, so I had another. The
second
set of tissue, rejected after only after a little over a year. So there
was
my third set of tissue, and this time it only lasted one year. Through
all
of this time, I was on huge amounts of anti-rejection and
immunosuppressant's. I developed high blood sugar, high blood pressure,
high
cholesterol, and the list goes on. At the end, I developed a kidney
infection, that landed me in the hospital. They could not say to which
sort
of infection I had, or where and how I got it. I was in renal failure. I
was
given the choice to continue my meds, keep my vision, or die. I was
slowly
taken off my meds, and over night, like I had gotten back my vision, my
good
sight was gone.  I am sure you all know to which I chose. So here is the
kicker, at the time, I thought that having vision and being able to see,
is
what made me. It was something I would risk my life to have. Yes I got
to
see, but this only the shorten version to the story. It was hard too, to
adjust to seeing. I almost died to keep my vision, that is crazy to
think
about. I can never have any sort of transplant, because my body would
reject
it right away. So like if I ever needed a new heart or kidney or lung,
nope
not going to happen. None of those doctors knew what the long term risks
were, but I am here to say, they were huge. I no longer have high blood
sugar, or high blood pressure, or anything else I had then, but I
damaged
the nerves in my ears. Damaged them to the point, I am loosing my
hearing.
Its that a kicker, no vision, and going deaf. I am a total now. Yes I
would
not take back what I did at all. I have three children, who at the time
were
small, I was able to see them. Yes being able to see was great, but in
my
mind. Right now, medical technology has made a lot of advances, but not
enough. The risk is still too high. I mean if you want to risk possibly
your
life, go for it. Its your right. Yes I helped, the medical community,
but
long term what did it do for me? I had the same sort of procedures that,
Mike May had. And yes, he can see. So it is different in all people.
What
Mike May wrote in his book, "Crashing Through" about getting back his
vision
was exactly how it was for me. And if you have ever seen the movie, as
hoky
as it was, "At first sight" how the man in the movie had to learn how to
see. Yes I had to learn how to see too.

So like I said, take that risk, but know exactly what might come from
it.
Know you might be able to see, but then not. Know that your life is
precious, and your taking huge risks.

If your one of those people, that won't believe me. I was featured in
the
Cincinnati newspaper, and on a local TV station there. Google my name of
the
time, Marsha Lindsey. You will see, of course no one has done a story of
what has come of it.

Just wanted you all to think. And stop being mean to each other.

Marsha

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