Today’s article has been written by Golda. I met Golda fairly recently, but feel I’ve known her since forever. We were walking down the street and she revealed how she’d been blind for a time. She was walking normally without any additions for the blind such as a white cane, and I was intrigued. It’s hard to be blind in a sighted world, everything in life is geared for people who can see and Golda has lived in both the sighted and the non-sighted world. Not everyone who is blind is able to get their sight back, but this is Golda’s story in her own words.
I have been asked by Suzie to write about Blindness.
Blindness is a lack of sight. All one can see is darkness. One feels lost, insecure, anxious and depressed. This is my story.
My name is Golda. I was born in July 1947 Melbourne. I was a premature, given oxygen at birth. This affected my eyesight. In addition to this I was hit across the face. At the age of 23 I went blind in both eyes. I yelled so loud that would wake the dead. I couldn’t play the piano, or read, or study. My next step was to contact an ophthalmologist and seek help. I had been going to an ophthalmologist for check ups over the years and the ophthalmologist professor, Gerald Crock, saw me the next day and plans were discussed to have operations. He performed seven operations on me and restored my sight. That is there are problems with my eyes but I can see.
These are the steps I took when I became blind.
Step 1-Choose the right surgeon-one that is skilled and professional.
Step2-Know exactly what your problem is in relation to blindness.
Step3-Believe in yourself. You can do it. Yes, you are afraid but with trust in the doctor and willingness by you -you have no choice.
Step 4-Believe in Hashem [God]. Read the tehillim [Book of Psalms] and the prayer book on Shabbat [Sabbath] – Believe.
Step5-Be positive.
These are the steps I followed. Although I have limitations with regard to my sight. I accept them. Finally Good Luck REMEMBER you are not alone. You have family, friends and the Shule [synagogue] Community. to offer support. My thanks goes to my late husband, Gary, my daughter, Rachel, and my deceased daughter, Debra.
They are in my heart-never to be forgotten
My support throughout my life from a wonderful man who taught me me everything in life – Maurice, my late father. Without his support and care life is empty. May his memory be a blessing
Being blind makes life uncertain-and causes change to happen. When you see you are independent. When you are blind you depend on others. You cannot do the simplest thing e.g. turning on a tap and you have to test the water to see if the tap is hot or cold by feeling the water.
As long as one learns about blindness and the steps I took -this may help people understand -people are people-blind people have a disability that can be corrected by the ophthalmologist and your willingness to cooperate with what lies ahead.