“Around 1995 I found out I had diabetic retinopathy.  Um, I didn’t know I was a diabetic.  My mother was a diabetic, but I never thought about myself being diabetic.

Oh, it’s not been bad at all.  I’ve been blessed.  I got some of my vision back, um back in 2009.  Medically when they look inside my eyes, everything’s the same.  But in 2009 I was in a play at my church.  I played the woman with the issue of blood.  In the Bible it  says she had this issue of blood and the doctors said there was nothing they could do.  She’d gone to everyone that she could except for Jesus.  She went to Him and touched the hem of His garment and was restored.  Well, my vision came back!

When the doctors look in my eyes they say there’s no change.  In fact, there’s a hole in the retina in both eyes.  I shouldn’t be able to see.  And I can’t explain it.  You know all I can say is something happened, and it can’t be medically explained away.

With losing your vision, you lose your freedom.  You turn into a five year old, you know real quick.  I don’t let it bother me.  When I’m in the store if I cant find something, I’ll say, ‘Can I borrow your eyes for a minute?  I’ll give ‘em back as soon  as I’m finished.‘  And they just look at me like I’m nuts, but [laugh] you gotta keep a sense of humor.  You know what doesn’t make you bitter makes you better.

When I lost my sight, my husband after twenty eight years didn’t want to deal with the blindness. Um, he replaced me with somebody else.  But, I’m happy and I’m content.  Somebody said, ‘You ‘otta get married.‘  Nah, I think I’m waiting for that good Jewish boy that walks on water and performs miracles.  [laugh]  I think He’s a pretty cool guy.  I think he can deal with this.  [laugh]

You take what God gives you.  You use it to bless other people or to enrich your life.     That’s what I do.  Use it for the best advantage you can use it for.  Remember not to let a day go by without being grateful for what God’ s given you.

My blindness was the best thing that ever happened to me… if that makes any sense?  Maybe not to all people, but it allowed me to see things in a different way than normal.  I’m more in tuned with things, more sensitive to other people, more caring.  It just helps you to tune and listen, to be compassionate to other people.  We sometimes forget that in society.”