[nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: Apersonal reportfrom ChairmanGordon Gund

John Heim john at johnheim.net
Sat Apr 23 22:03:52 UTC 2011 

Again, Constance, saying its better to be able to see is not the same thing 
as saying you shouldn't be proud of who you are.

You have every right to be proud of your ac omplishments. You've over come 
some significant challenges. But that's the whole point. Being blind is 
challenging. Its not easy. Its downright hard at times.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Constance Canode" <satin-bear at sbcglobal.net>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 10:32 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: Apersonal reportfrom ChairmanGordon 
Gund


> right on Gloria.  We can all be proud of who we are and of our 
> accomplishments in life, the same as any sighted person.  I am the only 
> one of the six siblings in my family who went past high school and I am 
> the only one with a decent job.  I worked hard, made it through school 
> without any rehab, worked nights and always found work on my own.  I am 
> not bragging, just stating a fact for those who want to argue with me. 
> You can do anything in this world if you work at it, and it doesn't matter 
> about your so-called visual acuity or lack thereof.
> At 10:26 PM 4/22/2011, you wrote:
>>Hi Constance,
>>
>>I fully agree with you. I have had people tell me that I was crazy if I
>>didn't want my sight.
>>
>>How do you miss something you don't have?
>>
>>As far as I am concerned, it is respectful to be blind.
>>
>>
>>Gloria Whipple
>>Corresponding Secretary
>>Inland Empire chapter
>>nfb of WA
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>Behalf Of Constance Canode
>>Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 19:51
>>To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: Apersonal reportfrom ChairmanGordon
>>Gund
>>
>>If someone came up to me today and said they could give me full
>>sight, I would tell them unequivocally to get lost.  I am a
>>well-adjusted person and I have lived my life in a happy and secure
>>manner, I work, own a home and am happily married.  I have done
>>everything I want to do as a blind person, travel, shop, etc.  The
>>part of the brain that knows how to see has never worked on those of
>>us who have never seen anything and it would be a tremendous
>>aadjustment, the same as a sighted person losing their vision all at
>>once.  Besides, they are not restoring what you have never
>>had...sight. What a shock it would be to see a car coming towards you
>>or your own face.  I have always joked that my face would probably be
>>a disappointment, another reason that makeup has always been a priority 
>>for
>>me.
>>At 03:45 PM 4/22/2011, you wrote:
>> >I'm  uncertain as to what you mean.  I said I'd rather not be blind.
>> >Are you saying you prefer to be blind?
>> >
>> >----- Original Message ----- From: "Gloria Whipple"
>><ladygloria at webband.com>
>> >To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> >Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 3:25 PM
>> >Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: Apersonal reportfrom
>> >ChairmanGordon Gund
>> >
>> >
>> >>To each his own!
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Gloria Whipple
>> >>Corresponding Secretary
>> >>Inland Empire chapter
>> >>nfb of WA
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>-----Original Message-----
>> >>From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>> >>On
>> >>Behalf Of John Heim
>> >>Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 12:54
>> >>To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>> >>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal reportfrom
>>ChairmanGordon
>> >>Gund
>> >>
>> >>Yes, Gloria, call me crazy but I'd prefer not to be blind.  Thanks for
>> >>caring though.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>----- Original Message ----- From: "Gloria Whipple"
>><ladygloria at webband.com>
>> >>To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> >>Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 11:11 AM
>> >>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal reportfrom
>>ChairmanGordon
>> >>Gund
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>>Bull. Are you in that category? I feel for you if you are.
>> >>>
>> >>>Sure it would be nice if sight could be given to those who want it, 
>> >>>but
>>it
>> >>>isn't the end of the world!
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>Gloria Whipple
>> >>>Corresponding Secretary
>> >>>Inland Empire chapter
>> >>>nfb of WA
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>-----Original Message-----
>> >>>From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>> >>>On
>> >>>Behalf Of John Heim
>> >>>Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 07:02
>> >>>To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>> >>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from
>> >>>ChairmanGordon
>> >>>Gund
>> >>>
>> >>>A lot of people don't like being blind. In fact, I would say that most
>> >>>people who are blind would prefer not to be blind.
>> >>>
>> >>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Gloria Whipple"
>><ladygloria at webband.com>
>> >>>To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> >>>Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 4:19 PM
>> >>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from
>> >>>ChairmanGordon
>> >>>
>> >>>Gund
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>>What in the heck is wrong with being blind!
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>Gloria Whipple
>> >>>>Corresponding Secretary
>> >>>>Inland Empire chapter
>> >>>>nfb of WA
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>-----Original Message-----
>> >>>>From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org 
>> >>>>[mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>On
>> >>>>Behalf Of S Baker
>> >>>>Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 14:14
>> >>>>To: AMoLList
>> >>>>Subject: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from Chairman
>>Gordon
>> >>>>Gund
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>SRBaker
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:00:24 -0500
>> >>>>From: GGund at FightBlindness.org
>> >>>>To: srbaker at charter.net
>> >>>>Subject: A personal report from Chairman Gordon Gund
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>Like you, Steven, I follow the work of the Foundation Fighting 
>> >>>>Blindness
>> >>>>closely. As a donor, I want to know that my donations make a 
>> >>>>difference.
>> >>>>
>> >>>>And believe me, they do.  When I reflect on the last year and listen 
>> >>>>to
>> >>>>this
>> >>>>video, I am reminded that we have more clinical trials for 
>> >>>>sight-saving
>> >>>>treatments underway than ever before.  Clearly, hope and optimism are
>> >>>>running high.  Incredible strides have been made in the last few 
>> >>>>years,
>> >>>>and
>> >>>>these remarkable advances would not have been made without your 
>> >>>>support
>> >>>>of
>> >>>>the Foundation. They include:
>> >>>>
>> >>>>Vision Restored.  We are continuing to build on remarkable gains in 
>> >>>>gene
>> >>>>therapy.  As you may recall, in a Foundation-funded trial, 9-year-old
>> >>>>Corey
>> >>>>Haas and 19 others received a gene therapy treatment and can now see.
>> >>>>And
>> >>>>as the trial has expanded, participants have shown sustained 
>> >>>>improvement
>> >>>>in
>> >>>>vision.  Building on this success, similar gene therapy treatments 
>> >>>>are
>> >>>>moving into clinical trials for choroideremia, Stargardt disease and
>> >>>>Usher
>> >>>>syndrome.
>> >>>>
>> >>>>Innovative Technology.  The high-tech industry has a treatment I'm
>> >>>>incredibly excited about-- the world's first commercially available
>> >>>>artificial or "bionic" eye. Early funding from the Foundation was key 
>> >>>>to
>> >>>>getting this engineered retina off the ground.  Building on the 
>> >>>>studies
>> >>>>we
>> >>>>funded, the light-sensing, implantable "chip" has been tested in a
>> >>>>clinical
>> >>>>trial in Europe with great results. In the study, people who were
>> >>>>profoundly
>> >>>>blind experienced improved vision that could help them to be more
>> >>>>independent.  In fact, many can now see shapes and recognize large
>> >>>>letters.
>> >>>>
>> >>>>Groundbreaking Therapies.  A research team funded by the Foundation
>> >>>>Fighting
>> >>>>Blindness developed an innovative technique for correcting the
>> >>>>disease-causing gene by using stem cells derived from a person's 
>> >>>>skin.
>> >>>>While
>> >>>>more work is needed to ensure safety, this advancement suggests that
>> >>>>doctors
>> >>>>may someday be able to treat a patient's retinal disease using their 
>> >>>>own
>> >>>>skin cells.
>> >>>>These few accomplishments barely begin to tell the story of all the
>> >>>>progress
>> >>>>that's being made.  And this is why words can never express my 
>> >>>>personal
>> >>>>gratitude for your passionate and committed support.
>> >>>>
>> >>>>I hope you will take a few minutes to watch the video and see the
>>results
>> >>>>of
>> >>>>your support and the hope it has generated. But most importantly, I 
>> >>>>hope
>> >>>>you
>> >>>>will see that research is progressing at a terrific rate.  It's been 
>> >>>>a
>> >>>>long
>> >>>>time coming, but we crossed a critical threshold when our researchers
>> >>>>actually restored sight. It launched us into a new era when more and
>>more
>> >>>>people will have their sight saved or restored every year.  A lot of
>>work
>> >>>>remains.  But we'll get there by continuing to work together.
>> >>>>
>> >>>>The Foundation Fighting Blindness values the support you give us by
>> >>>>donating, talking to your friends, and advocating for increased 
>> >>>>research
>> >>>>funding.  As we continue our relentless pursuit to eradicate 
>> >>>>blindness,
>> >>>>we
>> >>>>hope you will continue your steadfast support of our mission. Thanks 
>> >>>>for
>> >>>>envisioning a bright future for the millions affected by retinal
>> >>>>degenerative diseases.
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>Sincerely,
>> >>>>
>> >>>>Gordon Gund
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>Check us out on:
>> >>>>
>> >>>>Tell a Friend  |  Subscribe  |  Change email address  |  Unsubscribe
>> >>>>Foundation Fighting Blindness
>> >>>>www.FightBlindness.org
>> >>>>7168 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 100
>> >>>>Columbia, MD 21046
>> >>>>1-800-683-5555
>> >>>>
>> >>>>nonprofit software
>> >>>>_______________________________________________
>> >>>>nfb-talk mailing list
>> >>>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
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>>ba
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>> >>>>
>> >>>>
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