[Ohio-talk] FW:

Wed Aug 24 19:02:01 UTC 2011

Let me be the first to say amen.  And also "Thank you, Richard!"
Now, I also want to add something that I hope you'll throw into the mix when 
you have a phone conversation with either daughter or mom.
She doesn't have to change her life goals.  With a B.A. in English and a 
master's in library science, she can do any of the same things without sight 
that she could do with sight.  Point out to her that there are blind English 
teachers, blind writers, blind librarians, blind researchers, and all manner 
of other careers that these fields of interest might lead her to.  Her goals 
need not change, although the paths to reach those goals might need 
adaptation.
You are such a positive rold model for all of us, Richard -- thank you!
Deborah
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "J.W. Smith" <jwsmithnfb at frontier.com>
To: "'NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List'" <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>; 
"Capital Chapter (Columbus,Ohio) Mailing List" <capchapohio at nfbnet.org>; 
"Anne Marble" <annevmarble at yahoo.com>; "Annette Anderson" 
<afanderson at pobox.com>; "Barabara Fohl" <barbfohl at pobox.com>; "Barbara 
Pierce" <bbpierce at pobox.com>; "Becky Booth" <bbooth112 at gmail.com>; "Beth 
Debus" <mbdebus at yahoo.com>; "Carol Akers" <purplecakers at yahoo.com>; "Colleen 
Roth" <n8tnv at att.net>; "Crystal McClain" <mmcclain at cobridge.tv>; "Deanna 
Lewis" <deannakay618 at yahoo.com>; "Debra Baker" <lahm at pobox.com>; "Dr. JW 
Smith" <jwsmithnfb at frontier.com>; "Eric Duffy" <eduffy at pobox.com>; "Paul 
Dressell" <pmd at pobox.com>; "Richard Payne" <rchpay7 at sbcglobal.net>; "Shelbi 
Hindel" <shelbiah at att.net>; "Sheri Albers" <salbers1 at cinci.rr.com>; "Sherry 
Ruth" <babyruth2 at windstream.net>; "Steve Vincke" <kwh7047661 at aol.com>; 
"William Turner" <william.h.turner at ssa.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 1:37 PM
Subject: [Ohio-talk] FW:

I want to share this correspondence with you between Richard Payne and a
concerned mother because I believe it is some of the strongest evidence as
to why we exist and it is really what we are all about.

Well done Richard and keep up the good work!

Can I get an Amen?

Jw

Dr. J. Webster Smith

President, National Federation of the Blind of Ohio

PO Box 458 Athens, OH 45701

740-592-6326

"Changing what it means to be blind"

For more information go to nfbohio.org

From: Richard [mailto:rchpay7 at sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 7:47 PM
To: 'J.W. Smith'
Subject: FW:

From: Linda Huber [mailto:lsah1852 at hotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 2:28 PM
To: rchpay7 at sbcglobal.net
Subject: RE:

Dear Richard,

Thank you so much for your encouraging response. It has been difficult for
me to watch my daughter struggle both with her eyes and her emotional
stress. She is unsure of what the future holds and seeking answers to
questions that may arise about her life. Until now, I had no answers to give
her, nor a direction for her to turn to.

I appreciate getting your home phone number. I will be calling you, most
likely tomorrow as I have the day off from work. Stephanie has an
appointment at the Cincinnati Eye Institute on Sept. 27, so I will know more
about her current condition then. But as things progress, I also know we
need to be prepared for another outcome that may not be as positive.

You have given me hope that she can have a good and productive life. Thank
you for listening!

Linda Huber

  _____

From: rchpay7 at sbcglobal.net
To: lsah1852 at hotmail.com
CC: guswhite at juno.com; jwsmithnfb at frontier.com
Subject: RE:
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:13:46 -0400

Dear Linda,

I wish to be the first to tell you and your sister  that there is hope. I
lost my sight when I was 15 years old. I know blind people from all over the
world that have  been able to live a great life. I Can  help to guide you
and her with a wealth of information.

First contacting others that have walked the same       path of life
is a great first step. My home number is 937-298-6677 I wish to talk to you
and her. I think you have www.nfb.org <http://www.nfb.org/>  but that is as
great place to visit to get more information.

We have sever NFB centers that have the best trainers in the world. I would
also tell her to contact rehab for the blind. We have a local meeting every
second Saturday of the month. The next one is September 10th that would be
another first step.

Our state convention is the first week end in November it will be in Dayton
this  would be a great chance to meet blind people from all walks of life.
wish to keep in touch and help with this so contact me. Richard

From: Linda Huber [mailto:lsah1852 at hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, August 22, 2011 10:11 PM
To: rchpay7 at sbcglobal.net
Subject:

Dear Mr. Payne,

Dr. J.W. Smith suggested I contact you since you are the closest in
proximity for guidance. I am writing to you about my daughter, Stephanie.
She is 30 years old and is gradually losing her eyesight due to a rare
condition, limbal stem cell deficiency. She was diagnosed in 2000 and it has
slowly progressed to the point that she can no longer drive safely and she
is struggling with decisions on how to proceed in her life.

She has a BA in English from Wright State University and is currently
pursuing a Master's in Library Science. Reading has always been a passion
for her and she wanted nothing more than to be educated enough to work in a
library. However, continuing her education will accrue more student loan
debt and now she fears she will no longer be able to work effectively or
even be accepted to work in a "seeing" workplace. The only alternative for
saving her eyesight would be a limbal stem cell transplant, but doctors are
not even sure that would be successful at this point.

She is torn as to what her options are. I told her I would make contact with
you to perhaps enable her to more effectively assess what options she may
have to even consider working at some point. We live in St. Marys, OH, which
is a little more than an hour from Dayton. She is married and her husband is
supportive of whatever she chooses to do. At this point, none of us know
what to even suggest that she do. I am hoping that by contacting you, I will
be better able to give her answers as to what she might be able to do with
the rest of her life.

I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Linda Huber

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