[Nd-talk] FW: Another Blind New Mexican, almost, from the Blind History Lady

[Milton Ota]

Sharing this with you all.

 

 

From: Peggy Chong [mailto:peggychong at earthlink.net] 
Sent: Friday, April 21, 2017 9:13 AM
To: Chong Peggy <peggychong at earthlink.net>
Subject: Another Blind New Mexican, almost, from the Blind History Lady

 

Good Morning to All;

 

Being from New Mexico, I tend to highlight Blind New Mexican's in my Blind
History Lady programs such as Pauline Gomez from last month's email.  Today,
I wish to honor a Blind man who gave some thought of becoming a New Mexican
after attending college at the University of New Mexico.  Unfortunately, we
could not keep him here.

 

Michael Freeman was born October 30, 1948, two months pre-mature, causing
blindness.  HE attended Oregon public schools and the Washington State
School for the blind before entering into Reed College in Portland Oregon
where he earned honors for his high academic achievements.  

 

He learned braille as a young child as well as touch-typing and how to
manage human readers to access the multitudes of educational material that
were not in any sort of alternative format for any blind person during his
educational career.  Mike earned many scholarships because of his academic
achievements from diverse organizations to help pay for his education in a
field not thought of as a good possibility for a blind man.  

 

Mike did not see himself as "disabled", a term that for many during his
early life brought up visions of something broken.  Family and educators
told Mike that he was no better or worse than anyone else.  He was in charge
of his destiny and his life would be what he made of it.  Mike was made
aware from an early age from those around him that he, as a blind person
would face far more obstacles to education and employment than his sighted
peers.  But to reach the ultimate goal of the American dream of owning a
home, having a family and being an active part of the community as was
expected of others in his generation, he would just have to work a little
harder.  

 

In 1971, he came to  Las Cruces to attend the University of New Mexico where
he took part in many activities on campus and easily became a leader in
student groups.  Although the "Barrier Breakers" organization on campus made
up of mostly students with mobility disabilities did not focus on the
barriers Mike faced as a blind student at that time, he knew the value of
working together and supporting each other.  The organization helped him
hone his leadership skills.  Mike was a natural spokesman with his pleasant
and deep, strong voice that caught the attention of anyone nearby.  His
self-assuredness made it easy for everyone who listened to Mike, to adopt
Mikes concerns and willingly follow his lead.  A gift that served him well
all of his life.  

 

After getting his BA from the UNM in Las Cruces, job offers here in New
Mexico were not forthcoming.  He believed that his blindness definitely kept
him from finding employment as a physicist here in the land of enchantment.
So, back to Washington state where he landed a position as a computer
systems programmer at the Bonneville Power Administration, an agency of the
US Department of Energy a job he held for thirty plus years.   Mike  retired
at the end of July, 2013. 

 

Michael's talents were reflected as much by his personal interests and
accomplishments as they were in his professional achievements. He spoke
fluent German, and he was able to converse competently in French and
Spanish. He played several musical instruments, most notably piano. Michael
recalled in an article for a blindness publication several years ago that
one of his fondest memories was the honor of playing George Gershwin's
Rhapsody in Blue with the Oregon Symphony Orchestra in 1971 at the age of
23. Another passion was working as an amateur radio operator since 1962 and
was still a member of the Clark County Ham Radio Club in 2016.  At the time
of his death, he held an Amateur Extra Class License. He was a voracious
reader, particularly interested in military and political history, foreign
affairs, economics, fire science, the natural sciences, music, and medicine.

 

He enjoyed camping in his small camping trailer with family and friends.  He
enjoyed debating almost any subject.  He had a great sense of humor that no
matter how much anyone would disagree with his sometimes "curmudgeon"
viewpoint, one could not help to like him as a man.  

 

Mike married twice.  Mike and his first wife, unable to have children,
turned to adoption.  Mikes blindness proved again to be a barrier.  Agencies
claimed that because he was blind, it would be hard for him to raise a
"normal" child.  Wanting to be a parent more than prove he could raise a
"normal" child, the adopted a special needs child, requiring much one-on-one
support for the rest of the child's life.  The irony of this logic was not
lost on Mike.  

 

In 2005, after a severe bout of the flu, Mike found out he was a diabetic
when he almost went into a diabetic coma on a trip to Seattle, Washington.
His legs cramped and he fell and became seriously disoriented.  Mike  was
rushed to the emergency room.  Many tests were quickly performed.  The
results were most definite  and he was quickly put on an insulin drip.  When
he came out of what he called "the fog", the Doctor informed Mike that he
needed to be on an insulin drip immediately and would need to do so the rest
of his life.  Here again, Mikes deep belief in himself transferred to the
medical professionals who discovered Mikes diabetes in the emergency room.  

 

Mike's problem solving skills kicked in.  He knew little of diabetes, but
did know that blind people handled their medical needs independently so, he
just had to figure things out for himself.  Again, the ultimate goal was to
get back to a normal life.  He talked to other blind diabetics, diabetes
educators and researched all possible management tools.  Within days, Mike
had control of the diabetes.  He had much yet to learn, but none of his
medical team were worried that blindness would be a barrier for Mike in
caring for himself as a diabetic.  

 

In the past year, Mike learned that he had cancer.  Few in his life knew as
Mike  just kept on being Mike, continuing to serve as a leader in many
community organizations in his home state.  Then a bout with the flu sent
him to the hospital where he suffered a "cardiac event" and quietly left us
all on Christmas Eve of 2016.  

 

We will all miss you Mike Freeman.

 

Peggy Chong

The Blind History Lady

www.theblindhistorylady.com <http://www.theblindhistorylady.com> 

 

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