[nobe-l] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #144- Blindness With Other Conditions

[Beth]

That's weird.  Vampires and blindness.  Good one, but here's the
reality I've seen:
1. I've seen people who are blind with asthma, seizures, and diabetes type 1,
2. I've known someone who has all of those but the diabetes, but she
has mild CP,
3. I've seen people who are blind who have endocrinal disorders who
don't have a chance to have childen.  That's whatI've seen.
Beth

On 4/5/09, Robert Newman <newmanrl at cox.net> wrote:
> Educators
> RE:  Blindness With Other conditions
>
> In my newest THOUGHT PROVOKER I make use of a figure from a contemporary
> genre to make my point. Watch out! If you have not read the PROVOKER, it
> follows.  Recall that I collect responses and post them upon my web site for
> all the WWW to read and learn from and that URL is-
> Http://thoughtprovoker.info <http://thoughtprovoker.info/>   If you wish to
> receive THOUGHT PROVOKERS sent directly to you, just write me and ask, at-
> newmanrl at cox.net
>
> THOUGHT PROVOKER 144
> Blindness With Other Conditions
>
>
> "No, nothing else," answered Bill in response to my question- "Do you have
> any other major physical or emotional or life style considerations that you
> are concerned that your oncoming blindness will negatively impact or in
> reverse, will make your adjustment to blindness difficult?"
>
> I am a VR Counselor, this was my first visit with Bill. He is thirty,
> rapidly going blind due to RP and had just lost his job as a truck driver.
> My question reflected a major principle in achieving a successful outcome in
> adjusting to any major loss- you have to deal with the whole person.
>
> The strain in Bill's voice, the rubbing of sweating hands on his thighs told
> me my question had this guy reacting to something that he was unwilling to
> share. In my mind, I couldn't help but speculate, was he an alcoholic or an
> AIDS victim, or.? And so to plant the seed, an opportunity for later, I
> said, "Okay. And as we get to know one another, if in the future after you
> get a sense of how the rehabilitation process works, please don't hesitate
> to bring up any thing you'd like to talk about."
>
> Bill didn't wait very long and said, "Like I was saying, I've learned over
> the years that for me to.ah, manage my life, I've had to become a control
> freak. And I'm afraid blindness will.make me lose control."
>
> Finished, I walked Bill out to the reception area, where luck was with me.
> Randy, my next appointment was early. "Bill, meet Randy. He also has a form
> of RP, along with being deaf. And hey, he runs his own vending business."
>
> Out in the hallway walking to the elevator, I still felt good that Bill had
> met Randy, a guy that had another obviously serious condition in life to
> contend with and was doing well. At the open elevator doors, I shook Bill's
> hand. "I'll see you next week, at your place and we can talk more." And I
> would have said more, but we were interrupted.
>
> "Bill, let's go," interjected a male voice with very "no-nonsense" tone.
>
> "Richard!" I could tell Bill wasn't happy  with this intrusion. Then to me,
> "This is my brother. Excuse me a moment." And taking Richard off to one
> side, they talked.
>
> Back at the elevator, Richard said, "I didn't want Bill to come to you. We
> take care of our own. I'll be."
>
> "Richard, stop!" Bill cut off his brother. "I'll meet you at the car." Then
> to me, he said,  "Robert, I apologize for my brother. We are a very close
> and protective family. But ah, I don't mean to scare you, but if Richard
> comes to your office or wherever, don't ask him in. He'll settle down." And
> with that he was gone.
>
> I did not see Bill again for two months. We had four rescheduled
> appointments, bill calling in the day of each to cancel. Initially I thought
> denial was the major factor, but each successive call felt more like
> escalating stress and near panic. It is interesting to note, at some point
> in each conversation, he would refer to the "control" issue. Until,
> unexpectedly Bill showed up.
>
> "I was going to stay away. But I remember you said blindness can be managed
> even if you have other ah, issues, that you can still control your life. And
> I can't allow myself to lose control." A deep breath. "I want to explain. My
> brother and I both have.ah, are." Another deep breath, then in a rush, "I've
> not hurt anyone --- I've kept control --- fear I'm losing it --- I don't
> want to be like my brother."
>
> I had listened closely, was again puzzled, but excited to have Bill opening
> up. I thought, "Great, now we can get at those other key issues and work
> with them along side his blindness. Now we can have the best chance to get
> his life in balance; help him to get that control back that he speaks of as
> being so critical." In a sense holding my breath, I asked, "This is great,
> Bill. So help me to help you. Tell me what you are dealing with?"
>
> He said, "I am a vampire."
>
>
> Robert Leslie Newman
> Email- newmanrl at cox.net
> THOUGHT PROVOKER Website-
> Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
>
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