Let's Fight Blindness: Join Warriors4Sight On Feb. 25

Let's Fight Blindness:  Join Warriors4Sight On Feb. 25

It's not easy having your world cave in around you, but that's what I've learned to deal with each day.  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 with little or no night vision, having difficulty seeing people's hand gestures, recognizing where a person is and not seeing the night’s starry skies. 

At first I was depressed and I felt like giving up. But here I was a mom, wife to a disabled Veteran,and now a disabled Veteran myself. Although I felt sad, I knew I couldn’t quit. I decided I needed to be a good example for my family and would try to help them see that when life doesn’t go your way you change your perspective and you gain resiliency.

My vision loss gave me access to some excellent support programs to help cope with the never ending changes.  Just last year I became an "inpatient" at the VA's Southwestern Blind Rehab Center.  They helped me learn how to improve my mobility with my cane, they taught me how to use special lights and adjust my computer accordingly. And they taught me about new technology of reading books through a Victor Reader, speech aspects on the Iphone and much more.  The six week program was a great experience.  

Although learning new technology is important, in dealing with vision loss it's also important to help find ways to cure and prevent diseases like mine.  That's why I support the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Through their research funding I enrolled in a six year study that proved taking 15,000 IUs of Vitamin A in the palmitate form could help slow our disease. Although I have 10 degrees of vision in each eye and  I know it’s not the 90 degrees the majority of folks have, I remain thankful for my “Tunnel of Light”.
 

One of the ways I support FFB and their research efforts is through the Arizona VisionWalk  It's a family friendly three mile trek that takes us around the walking path at Steele Indian School Park on Feb. 25th at 9 a.m..  It's one of those rare times where you'll see hundreds of people with red and white canes and guide dogs helping us navigate the circle. 

You can join us as we continue to “fight on” for research, for cures, and for hope in saving our vision. You can do so by joining our team and becoming a Warrior 4 Sight, or you can make a contribution online.  

It takes all of us to win this battle and we hope you will join us in becoming Warriors4 Sight!
http://www.fightblindness.org/site/TR/VISIONWALK/VisionWalktr?team_id=68238&pg=team&fr_id=4902  
 

The Beautiful Bond of Motherhood

At one point in my life, at the wise age of 21 (hah), I swore off marriage and family.  I was having so much fun, being in the Navy, traveling, writing, getting into broadcast journalism. I felt content.  This "wisdom" lasted until I was about 27 when I began to change my mind and started thinking about the next phase of my life.  Fortunately at the age of 29, I met Bill Pedene.  We were married and years later we were blessed with two children.

Paula and Steven at the Navy Lodge in San Diego

On April 30, 1995 our second son Steven Pedene was born. As a child his light blond hair shone bright like his personality, ambition, and smile.  He was gregarious from the get go. Today marks his 19th birthday so I sit here reflecting back on the life we've had together thus far.  There's been so much--first words, first steps, first hugs and kisses, first birthdays, first grade, field trips, plays, musicals, tournaments, and more.  All of these have made an impact on my life and the majority of them have been for the better.

So today I'm thankful that the "wisdom" of my youth was changed by someone far wiser than me (thank you Lord!) because this day my life is much fuller and better because I'm a mom.

Happy Birthday Steven, I wish you a year full of joy, happiness, faith filled inspiration and much success.  Love you!  Mom. 

A Birthday Blessing

Today is my birthday, and although I know there is all things fun happening on Facebook, there's joyful wishes on LinkedIn, and I have a beautiful Google birthday doodle on my Google page, the thing that's already made my day, in just the first hour, is a telephone call from my sister Denise.

Those of you who are not baby boomers may wonder why a phone call could be so special. Well, because of all the things that happen today, that one thing, brings everything home to me.  You see our mother used to call each of her six children early in the morning on our birthdays. She'd be the first voice we'd hear.  She'd be the first person to listen to what was happening, our hopes, our dreams our challenges.

So hearing a voice, and receiving a call, early in the morning on my birthday is still special to me.  I grew up when phones hung on the wall, when you had a rotary dial, when the operators would be the primary source or assistance and when our voices--the spoken word--were phenomenal ways of keeping in touch.

It's been 23 years since my mom has moved on to be with the Lord.  I am grateful to her and my father for so many things, her special phone calls, their guidance, their love, their support, but primarily for my faith.  For I know that Denise's call this morning, was a gift from our Heavenly Father, who knew that was what I needed today.

May God watch over you and keep you in His care.