We're Walking as Warriors 4 Sight On March 2, 2013

     I found out I was afflicted with a hereditary eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) when I was on active duty in the US Navy. It is a degenerative retinal disease that causes tunnel vision and eventually blindness. All my life I have struggled no night vision, having difficulty seeing people, recognizing faces, and a long time ago I stopped seeing the night’s starry skies. After having my first son, I was told I needed to give up driving, start walking with a red and white cane so people knew I was legally blind and I was informed I would need to leave my Navy Reserve Career behind.

     As a mother, wife and primary breadwinner for our family I became concerned `with the question, how am I going to survive this? The realization brought me to my knees and I came face-to-face with the question, who am I? At first I was depressed and angry and I felt like giving up. But here I was the mother of a young son, wife to a disabled Veteran, a federal employee and now a disabled Veteran myself. Although I felt sad and lonely, I knew I couldn’t quit. I decided I needed to be a good example for my family. I needed my family to know that life doesn’t always go your way and you cannot give up or quit.
     I enrolled in the VA’s Low Vision Program and learned how to use a cane, special lights and adjust my computer accordingly. I enrolled in the YMCA play groups and the Public Relations Society of America and found friends and colleagues to help me with rides to and from events and activities. I learned the necessary skills to keep me safe, independent, and improve my quality of life. I sought out community, state, and federal resources to help me “find my way” back to myself.
     One of the resources I tapped into was the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Through their research funding I enrolled in a six year study that proved taking 15,000 IUs of Vitamin A could help slow our disease. So today, at 54, I still have 10 degrees of vision in each eye. I know it’s not the 90 degrees the majority of folks have, but I am thankful for my “Tunnel of Light”.
     Six years ago FFB started VisionWalk and I’ve been giving back to them ever since. This year we have combined the two teams Veterans & Friends for vision and AZ Blind Dragons Martial Arts into one powerful team, Warriors 4 Sight! Our goal this year is to raise $2500.00 or more. Last year AZ Blind Dragon raised $1000.00 and Veterans & Friends for Vision raised over $1000.00. Together we should easily achieve our $2500.00 fundraising goal. The Team Captains are Tom Hicks and myself (we are both blind and legally blinded Veterans).
     We hope you can join us as we continue to “fight on” for research, for cures for hope is saving our vision. We hope you can join our team and become a Warrior 4 Sight!!! Sincerely, Paula L. Pedene APR Legally Blinded Veteran & Warrior 4 Sight Here is the link to the Warriors 4 Sight page:

http://www.fightblindness.org/site/TR/VISIONWALK/VisionWalktr?team_id=68238&pg=team&fr_id=4902  

We appreciate your support and hope to see you on March 2!