Patience and compassion are key when it comes to weathering a storm together.
Thatsa国际传媒檚 according to Kelowna couple Pauline and Jim Marshall.
Over the years, Jim developed glaucoma, which he had been able to manage well. But then three years ago, he suddenly lost his vision while on a trip to California with his wife Pauline.
sa国际传媒淚 think the hardest part was that it happened so suddenly. Wesa国际传媒檙e both avid cyclists and in January (2017), we were doing really well cycling. Then Jim developed a red-eye and by February, he could no longer drive,sa国际传媒� Pauline said.
At first, it felt like they went through all the stages of grief, Pauline explained.
sa国际传媒淎t one point, we were told that Jimsa国际传媒檚 vision would not be restoredsa国际传媒ut we kept saying to our ophthalmologist, sa国际传媒楴o, wesa国际传媒檙e not going to believe this.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淎nd so we started a journey of hope and change and adapting and trying to figure out what our new norm was going to be.
sa国际传媒淎nd thatsa国际传媒檚 where we are now.sa国际传媒�
Jim said it was difficult and isolating in the beginning. Despite the diagnosis that he wonsa国际传媒檛 have any vision at all, he is still able to see.
He described his remaining vision as like looking through wax paper, and the world beyond it looking like shadows.
sa国际传媒淎s a husband and a father, yousa国际传媒檙e always wanting to do things. Yousa国际传媒檝e got the driving, yousa国际传媒檝e got to take care of your family, yousa国际传媒檝e got all that and thatsa国际传媒檚 taken away from you in an instant,sa国际传媒� he said.
sa国际传媒淏ut once you realize this is your reality, you start to ask, sa国际传媒榃hat can I do and how can I do it?sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淏ecause everything can be done. Everything I did before, I can still do now.sa国际传媒�
He may not be able to see the way he did before, but he can adapt and do the things he used to do but with a little more patience and help from Pauline.
Since he cansa国际传媒檛 read things on the computer screen or his tablet anymore, he uses apps and functions that read items out loud to him.
He has a specialized magnifying glass with a light that helps him read printed items.
And then theresa国际传媒檚 his wife.
sa国际传媒淛im chose not to have a seeing-eye dog. And we always joke that Isa国际传媒檓 his guide dog. Hesa国际传媒檚 still very independent, so we try and cook together, but he can still help with preparation,sa国际传媒� Pauline said.
Whenever theysa国际传媒檙e in a crowded or unfamiliar place, Pauline helps Jim navigate.
As avid cyclists before Jimsa国际传媒檚 vision loss, the couple didnsa国际传媒檛 want to also lose their sense of outdoor adventure, so they purchased a tandem bike.
Pauline steers and Jim is the muscle behind the pedal.
sa国际传媒淲e have always been a team. We worked together, travelled together, and wesa国际传媒檙e still a team,sa国际传媒� she added.
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