I Am Not With Her

Tags

Acceptance, Animals, Blind, Blindness, Disability, Equality, Guide Dog, Happiness, Hidden Disability, Judgemental attitude, Labradoodle, Munch, Sight Loss

Going back to the gym after nearly  5 years has been a little…. meh!

Being the only dog (in fact, the only  one with four legs ) I have seen there, I somehow attract attention . Admittedly,  my laudable labradoodle looks are magnetic , but sometimes I just want to blend in and watch the sweaty two-legged race do weird things. I mean, why run on a treadmill if there are no squirrels or cats in sight? Why operate machines when no treats are automatically given? Oh, and please someone tell me why that owner of mine  (who we all know is really my maid), says “ouch” at least an infinite amount of times the following day when she moves more than 1° from her stationary position.  Humans are just weird.

Being in the fine canine physique that I am,  when I run with my four-legged friends each day, we do it for fun. Fun, however, is not the first word that springs to mind when I see my maid attempt to do what others seem to do with ease. With arms resembling flapping wings more than arms, her legs appearing to be heading towards  different post codes and a tomato instead of a face , the gym doesn’t seem to be her natural habitat. She does, however, insist that it is great to be back. I feel she is saying this positive, self-fulfilling prophecy to encourage her soul not to divorce her body during this time.

In her defence,  she does have to rely on audio descriptions of what to do in classes as obviously she can not see. Usually the instructors can be good in giving auditory prompts to what is happening,  but more often than not, she relies on her daughter to give instructions as she patiently shouts across the music “not thst left, the other left”. If I am honest, I pretend that Zena is just a random stranger who I happen to be laying next to and not my maid/owner. Laying patiently between the treadmills and cross trainers with my soft toy, I pretend not to notice her flailing next to be as she excersises like nobody is watching. She seems to have no shame at all.

The blessing of being blind is that you can not see the expression  on other people’s faces. Happiness when you are blind is far more of an internal state that does not rely on the  approval of external factors.  Life with sight loss can mean that you are constantly guessing what is going on in the sighted world that you are a guest in. On the other hand, you could be like my embarrassing maid who is so in her own blurry world, that she makes up her own rules in her own ways. A professional athlete she will never be, but a lover of challenges? She already is.

Just a quick heads up, if you see me hanging around the gym and classes with her, just give me a silent nod to let me know that you know I wasn’t the one who taught her to run. In 3 months’ time, when I retire, I am sure I will miss her flappy ways in the gym , but for now,  I will continue sighing and rolling my eyes as I have done for nearly 8 years.

Long Cane Complaints

Tags

Acceptance, Awareness, Blessings, Disability, Diversity, Dog, Expansion, Freedom, Gratitude, Guide Dog, Hidden Disability, Labradoodle, Mobility, Sight Loss, vision, Visual Impairement

Walking 55 miles in 5 days, pretty easy.

Walking 55 miles in 5 days with a long cane , ……. not so easy.

I am lucky to say, walking has never really been a challenge for me. Growing up, my parents never drove,  so we either caught a bus or walked. Having been born with sight loss, I have obviously never had the opportunity to drive, which has never really bothered me. Walking, therefore, has always been my constant in getting around. Doing the recent sponsered walk did, however, have its challenges.

In hindsight,  I could have offered my local council to carry out a survey, counting how many potholes, broken paving stones , raised drains,  and chipped pavements there were in the local area. I wouldn’t have minded either, to alert them of all the overhung branches and brambles that sought a botanical cuddle buddy,  from passing pavement users every few yards. Going through 2 roller ball tips on our travels,  my cane must have felt a little battered and, at times, underappreciated by me as a let out an occasional swear word or two.

Don’t get me wrong, I really do appreciate the use of a long cane to keep me safe as I steam ahead on my travels , but they do have their limits. Now, I am unsure if it is my  innate  cack-handed way of being (probable), or a design fault in these great  independent aides (unlikely) , but I have been known to be a danger to society with one, I have been known to almost spear out an organ or two of a person walking behind me when I stop  dead,  as my roller ball takes a break in a dip in the ground. My daughter has vowed never to walk behind me again after nearly losing  her appendix on more than one occasion in this very way. Either that, or I resemble a pole vaulter as my body jolts into threated flying action as my swift pace stops abruptly as my roller tip ball sulks in a crevice. 

As you can tell, my cane and I,  don’t  get on as well as Munch, and I do. In reality though , I need to turn my frown upside down in relation to this extendable friend if I want to keep living an independent life. The wait for a new Guide Dog has begun, but I am aware it could be quite sometime. I only have 19 weeks left working with my hairy soulmate before he hangs up his harness for retirement.  A day that will be full of  multifaceted emotions, but one that has to come. Working with my long cane will be, in a way, regressive. Working with a Guide Dog allows you to trust in their judgements as they steer  you away from danger, whereas a cane can only highlight the danger when you are right besides it. A cane can not listen to your commands of finding steps, a bin, a cashpoint, a checkout, a door, or numerous other essentials when out and about.

I appreciate now more than ever  the hard work Munch has selflessly gifted me over our years together. Almost eight years ago, I had gone through 39 years of my life getting around with no Guide Dog or cane as I didn’t want to dent my pride. Today, I can not imagine life without a harness covered  furry friend walking by my left side. I am awaiting a mobility assessment with the Guide Dog team as part of the application for a new dog. I need to complete a 40-minute walk with my trusted cane for the assessment. After that, I  will meet the dog team to work through requirements for a new dog.  Ideally, I would love another labradoodle due to their hypoallergenic hair, which suits working in schools, but with only  around 2% of labradoodles as Guide Dogs, the chances are slim.

Giving back to Guide Dogs by fundraising, I feel is the bare minimum I can do to give thanks for their wonderful support they have given over the years. We have raised £1, 070 (42% of the £2,500 target ) in just 10 weeks , with more due in over the next couple of weeks, I am excited when we will  be able to name another Guide Dog puppy after Munch. A huge thank you to all  who have supported us so far. Your kindness makes such a difference to those living with sight loss.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/zena-cooper-1716625977644?newPage=true

Q and A About Munch’s Retirement

Tags

Animal, Blessings, Blindness, Disability, Dogs, Drama King, Guide Dog

Since telling people about Munch’s retirement that is coming up at the end of the year, many similar questions have been asked. Whether it be family and friends, our clients in work, or when we do fundraising and speaking events, themes come up again and again. Here are the most frequently asked questions we have been asked lately

1. Where will Munch go and what will happen to him?

He will stay with us. When a Guide Dog retires, a few options are open to them, to live out the rest of their life. Firstly, there is always an option for them to stay with their partner that they have worked with over the years. Secondly, they can go and stay with family and friends. Finally, they can be placed with someone who wants to take on a retired Guide Dog, which sometimes can be their old puppy walkers. Our little Minster Munch will stay with us. When I  am in work, he will be lovingly looked after by family members who will no doubt spoil him rotten.

2. What will he spend his days doing?

Basically, eating, sleeping, beach runs, sleeping, walks in nature, sleeping, being fanned down, and fed a little too many treats. And possibly a little more sleeping until I get home from work and tell him all about the people who are missing him.

3. How long will I have to wait for another Guide Dog?

The average waiting lists here in Wales are currently around a year and a half to 2 years. I will be going on a waiting list soon ready for my next dog as we can go on 6 months before our current dog retires.

4. How will I manage whilst I wait?

I will be getting around using my long cane, which is not ideal but a necessity. The long cane is a preferred choice for many with sight loss, for me however, it can never replace the safety reassurance of a Guide Dog. Life pre Munch saw me having lots of falls and accidents, resulting in reconstructing surgery. Navigating life in busy schools with well over 1,000 pupils in each whilst using cane can be pretty tricky, but I have no other choice.

5. What type of dog would I like next?

In reality, I will have the first dog available. If I had a magic wand however, I would love another Labradoodle.  The temperament and personality traits of Labradoodles are so loving and clever. Admittedly, stubbornness,  mischief making, attention seeking, and aloofness of the Labradoodle is a little challenging at times, but at least there is never a dull moment. 

6. What will I miss most about having him constantly by my side?

Everything. For the last seven and a half years, we have come as a duo. To my grandchildren , we are known as Mam and Munch, my family and friends know him as equal, and my clients expect to have counselling and pet therapy all at once. I expect I will be counting down the minutes until I get home from work to give him the biggest Cwtch possible.

7. Is there anything positive about his retirement?

I think one of the most important things for me to remember is that after so long in service, he deserves to put his paws up and relax into his senior years and be pampered like  he deserves to be.  

8. What do I think life will be like with 2 dogs in the house?

Crazy and barking mad. At first I think it will be hard for Munch to adjust to another four legged friends being here 24/7, but hopefully he will love having the company of another dog. Not quite sure how much space I will have in bed with 2 dogs snuggling in , but that is a sacrifice that will be well worth it.

9. Is Munch having a retirement party, and does he get a pension?

He most certainly is having a retirement party. The place is booked, the guest list drawn up and plans are underway. Celebrating Munch’s dedication over the years is a given , To honour and give thanks to his service is the least I can do to show him how much he has meant to me and touched tte heart of so many. His pension will be paid in treats.

10. What am I most thankful to Munch for?

Munch has opened my life up to so many possibilities since we first met. I have gained confidence  that I never knew was missing or existed. The unconditional love of an animal  is on a different frequency than a human, and I am eternally grateful to him for allowing me to connect to that. There is nothing about my hairy soul mate that I will not be eternally grateful for.

Fundraising Adventures

Tags

Animal, Blind, Disability, Dog, Family, Gratitude, Guide Dogs, Hidden Disability, Labradoodle, partnership, Sight Loss, Vision Impairment, Visual Impairement, White Cane, Working Dog

  “Don’t cry because it’s over -smile because it’s happened” Dr Seuss.

As Munch enters his last six months of his working life, I am preparing myself for a life where he will no longer be constantly by my side. For the last seven and a half years , he has been my furry soulmate that has given me freedom to live an independent life safely. Life pre Munch was very different, where my sight loss was hidden from most . Explaining sight loss to the sighted world was not an easy task, but Munch made it far easier than I ever would have imagined.

The ‘different  looking Guide Dog’ and me ‘not looking blind’ have worked well together to help people understand that sight loss is not something that has a universal look. Not all Guide Dogs are golden Labradors, and not all blind people wear dark glasses. Not all Guide Dogs are impeccably behaved (sorry Munch, but you are not), and not all blind people live life full of limits. When a Guide Dog partnership works well, life becomes full of joyful opportunities. We have been on so many adventures together over the years, that has only been possible due to my growth in confidence  that came after Munch’s arrival.

The reality is that after Munch retires ,  I will have to wait at least a year or so for another Guide Dog which will not be easy. Getting around with a long cane is far from ideal especially in the workplace. Working in different schools throughout the week holds many challenges and safety hiccups that are not easy to navigate.  Life pre Munch was full of accidents and injuries, which resulted in surgeries as is not a place I am looking forward to returning to. It is for this very reason that I , along with so many others, support fundraising for  Guide Dogs.

We often help out with fundraising  events on the weekends whenever we can. We have decided as a family however, to do a little more to keep raising funds for such an amazing charity. It costs an average of £55,000 for a Guide Dog throughout their lifetime , from puppy training to retirement.  The more money raised, the more Guide Dogs trained and waiting times for these dogs will be less. Knowing that my new Guide Dog is probably currently at the beginning of their training, is a motivator for me to do as much as I can to help raise money.

Over the next year or so, we have decided to try and raise £2,500 to Name A Puppy after Munch. We have different fundraising events planned, with the first being a sponsored walk of 55 miles over 5 days. This will be in Munchs favourite spots , where I will be walking with my long cane with my beautiful daughter Korisha acting as my sighted Guide. Munch will be having some well-earned rest as we walk, and he will be lounging on the sofa to get used to retirement. Walking with a cane is a challenge and so much harder than walking with Munch’s alertness. It is a challenge that will be worth it.

If you would like to help us out by sponsoring or sharing this link to help us reach our target, we would be so very thankful.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/zena-cooper-1716625977644?newPage=true

I will keep you updated on our fundraising adventures and Munch’s last few months of his working life before he enters his new chapter in life.

Thank you

The Now Is Good Enough

Tags

Acceptance, Animal, Blessings, Blind, Blindness, Disability, Dog, Drama King, Free spirit, Gratitude, Guide Dog, Hidden Disability, Mobility, Munch, partnership, Sight Loss, Unconditional Love, Visual Impairement, Working Dog

Plodding on seven years later, I often wonder if our little Minster Munch knows that his harness wearing days will not be forever. Our working life together will cease  anytime within the next 21 months when he will have to retire. I, on the other hand, have a mere 21 years until I retire. It is a possibility that I could be matched with 3 more Guide Dogs in my working life, each one bringing their own quirks and perks. 

Revisiting my naivety of what I thought life with a Guide Dog would be like always makes me cackle and cringe in equal measure. Firstly, I thought life changes would be subtle, my Guide Dog would listen at all times, and I would never have  to apologise for our behaviours. Hmmmm, that didn’t go quite to plan. From day one together, everyone noticed the unusual Shetland pony sized Guide Dog that appeared in our relatively small town. Minster Munch made it clear that he only completed his 20 months of training  to be able to become my master and train me into conformity via his cuteness. His behaviour throughout our time together can be categorised anywhere between attention seeking and driven, but always professional when in work mode.

I was asked this week by a 6 year old client if Munch knew if he was a Guide Dog and not a pet dog? I flummoxed an incoherent answer back, stating that “I think he just thinks he is just Munch, and when he puts his harness on, he just does Guide Dog stuff”. On reflection, I think this is truer than I originally thought. Munch, in all honesty believes everyone is his friend (or sometimes staff member), has unconditional love for every species, and is free spirited enough to be in love with living life his own innocent way. A human concept of a dog can never truly honour their ability to innately help and enhance the lives of those around them.

We are due for a review in the next couple of weeks to see how  our partnership is getting on and how our little Munch is doing in his Guide Dog role. He will be checked over more regularly by the vets from now on to see how his health is doing, and I will be closely monitoring his energy levels and eagerness as he slips into his work harness daily. At the age of nine, his younger doggy friends are beginning to run a little faster than him as his paws pound the ground during free runs, but each day, he still shows up wanting to play. Focusing on the beauty of the now. Munch is being as Munchish as ever, which I am eternally grateful for. Nothing lasts forever, but now is good enough for us

Disabled. To be or not to be

Tags

Acceptance, Access, Achievement, Awareness, Blind, Choice, Disability, Diversity, Equal Opportunities, Guide Dog, Hidden Disability, Life lessons, Life Purpose, Mobility, Sight Loss, Vision Impairment

Mention the word disability to ten different people,  and they will all have different opinions on what that means to them and those around them. Some will identify with the word, some will not, some will have ideas about what disability means to them that you had never considered.

Going on one definition of disability , it suggests that disability is “having a physical or mental impairment. The impairement has a substantial and long -term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day -to -day activites”. During my time working with children and families over the last 28 years , I have heard people describe minor health inconveniences as disabilities and often wondered where their own definition came from. Others who have had significant adverse health issues that impact every waking moment of their lives, reject the disabled label with passion. The complexity of such a topic is guaranteed to bring up strong opinions either side of the disability line.

The reason for writing this, is as a reflection from a conversation I had with someone who asked if I considered being blind an “actual disability.”.What was interesting was that this comment came from a retired optician, which to me seemed quite comical. Clearly an optician who had used her “good enough” sight during her years of practice to assess patients with sight loss did not not really understand what it would be like to have limited or no sight as a constant companion.  We had a really interesting chat about perception of impact on life of disability and how that differed greatly among individuals. She told me a story about a lady in her 70’s who had failing sight who could no longer shop alone due to not being able to see prices, labels etc and needing to rely on others to do her shopping. The retired optician told me that it was stories like that, that got her emotional in her old job yet she saw me in a different light.

When we chatted about me having sight loss from birth, yet still going through the educational system with no help and still achieving Masters degree level qualifications after  finding alternative ways of doing things, she couldn’t work out how that was possible. When she heard that I was working  a full time and part time job, volunteering,  had written a book, look after my grandchildren  and still live an independent life whilst being registered Severly Sight Impaired (the old blind register) she asked if I thought of myself as actually  disabled? The answer is far from straight forward.

I hate to admit it, but there is quite a lot of things I cannot do in life. I cannot see some cars, let alone drive. I probably wouldn’t be called upon to help recognize  a person in a line-up as I can’t see a person. Becoming a tour guide may not be my strongest career potential either , as I cannot see my surroundings. What I can do however, is do things my way. When I think of words  to describe myself, disabled is not really a word which jumps out at me to be chosen, but in other people eyes , I suppose I am. Being born with Marfan Syndrome has brought about far more disabling complications than being blind has. I have had numerous injuries and reconstructive and other surgeries from life with a connective tissue disorder, yet Marfan Syndrome itself is not a stand alone disability, yet being blind (which is omnipresent but not always an issue) is classed as a disability.

I often forget that I cannot see as I have no alternative frame of reference. Seeing some  blurs and blobs from birth is normal to me. Using sound, methods of elimination, touch and intuition gives me all I need to know about the world. To me, it seems weird that people use their eyes alone to short cut their way to interpreting the world we co-exist  in. So when I am asked if  I have a disability, the rebel in me sometimes wants to resist ticking the box to a label that I don’t always feel I fit in. Other times, I want to proudly wave the flag that disabled people are often the most fiercely amazing people that you will ever meet.

Measuring your disabilities or abilities against  another person’s definition, is not always simple. Sometimes you fit, other times you don’t. What matters to me is what you do with the identification of being disabled.  Personally, I love that it keeps me motivated to find creative ways to meet everyday challenges, and I never have  the chance to get bored. Being born with sight loss into the sighted world, which is not the most welcoming or accommodating, may not be ideal, but it neither has to be impossible.

Nine and Mighty Fine

Tags

Animals, Birthdays, Blessings, Celebration, Dog, Gratitude, Guide Dogs, Happiness, Inner Peace, Labradoodle, Pampered Pooch

As Munch awaits patiently to turn 9 tomorrow on the 18th December, where he will be showered with love, gifts and possibly a treat or ten, I find myself reflecting back on our last seven years together in our Guide Dog partnership.

When he trotted into my life at 23 months full of charisma and cheek, I wondered what it would be like when he would grow older  and wiser. Seven years on, and he may have grown older but the wiser..? … maybe not. He seems as healthy today as he was when we met. He runs like a pup, explores new places in total awe, gets the Zoomies at least once a day, meets everyone with his helicopter tail, and will sit his six stone self on anyone’s lap regardless if they want it or not.

Luckily, he has not shown any sign of slowing down as he grows gracefully towards his senior years. After his operation a little while back to remove a fatty lump, he seems to bouncing back stronger than ever. What follows is my nine favourite memories with this sprightly  ageless Labradoodle that I have had the pleasure of sharing over the years.

Always biting off more than he can chew

Munch always thinks big and enjoys getting himself in situations that he usually needs rescuing from. From getting stuck in mud, getting stuck under the same  hotel bed ….3 times…. , to instigating a speedy rescue operation from a London Park after a minor injury accompanied with major dramatic acting skills, life is never dull.

Being the leader of our pack

Whilst out and about, you will always find Munch leading out in front of us all. With four adult children and three grandchildren, our pack needs a leader, and  Munch is the dog for the job. Slightly led by ego, but mainly by pride, our sashaying warrior is always happy to lead us astray. One of his favourite places to guard us s under a table at a restaurant. He heroically leaps at a dropped chip and devoures it , just incase it causes injury to us. Well  that is what he will lead you to believe anyway.

Being the eyes in our relationship

Now, Munch’s vocabulary has increased over our time together and recognises many words in the  usual shops we visit. Even when the shops move the layout around, Munch can sniff out certain items such as cheese, bread, treats and crisps to name but a few. Unfortunately,  I am still waiting for him to find the spinach,  mangoes, and tomatoes that grace the supermarket aisle, as for some reason, he takes less interest in these products. Strange eh?

He became a hairy author

In 2019, Munch wrote a book with his own four  paws. Well maybe I helped a little. What You See When You Can’t See looked at what life is like being blind and how Guide Dogs transform lives in magical ways. With some honest and funny tales of my life pre and post Munch,   I wanted to help people have insight into a world that is very different than a sighted person’s life. With Munch being the main star of the show, no tale is left untold.  He has graced television shows, been interviewed on  radio stations and numerous magazines yet has kept his paws placed firmly on the ground.

He became bilingual

Our little Minster (his official Guide Dog name) Munch, has a Canadian Poodle father and an English Labrador mother and was born in England. Moving to this funny little country, Wales must have  been a cultural shock but he has taking it all in his stride. Our strong accents and complex language  is not for the faint-hearted , but Munch has picked up our language really well. Working predominantly in Welsh speaking  schools , he has learnt instructions such as stairs, door, left, right etc with surprising ease and can follow commands in either language. He has also become a bit of a Welsh rugby fan, which is a bonus for him when the whole family are  passionately  shouting at the TV when we are playing rugby. If you can’t beat them, join them.

He is my Zen in my Zena

Munch joins me everyday in my meditation practice. Whether I am on my meditation cushion or in my bed, Munch is always by my side listening to tranquil music as he enters his own portal of paradise. If we fit in a sneaky meditation during our lunch hour at work, Munch happily snoozes on top of my feet and radiates the most Zen energy eve. He brings the Zen when I am too Zenaish, and reminds me to breathe. Centre and just be zen

Being the odd one out is always a privilege

Munch stands out from the crowd in so many unique ways. From being called an ‘odd looking Guide Dog’ too many times to remember, to attracting all the right questions about Guide Dogs,  Munch never fails to show up and is always eager to help. Breaking the norms of traditional looking Guide Dogs is one of Munch’s strengths and highlights that judging on looks alone will never bring you truth. Being the odd one out makes you shine the brightest and always will.

Munch is the strength and light to many

Munch has an eternal healing energy that seems to never depleat. From lovingly sitting with sobbing clients, to being drawn to the lonely in life to make them feel connected, he is  always searching out a heart to heal with his paws, kisses, and his presence.  When my mother (who was his greatest fan)  passed away nearly two years ago, he cried at her funeral and still lays peacefully on top of her grave when we visit. His unconditional love is eternal to every soul he has ever met.

He is always ready to help

Not only does he work with me five days a week in schools, he is always willing to give up his weekends to do his bit for his fellow Guide Dogs.  Being worshipped by the public is an  added bonus, obviously, but he never tires of showcasing how life changing being a Guide Dog is. Even on the eve of his birthday, he put his best paw forward and took part in some fundraising. 

Wishing you a very Happy 9th Birthday Munch filled with fun, love and some tasty treats  . ❤️

Bouncing Back Better

Tags

Animals, Blessings, Blind, Blindness, Disability, Diversity, Dog, Drama King, Equality, Guide Dog, Hidden Disability, Sight Loss, Visual Impairement, Working Dog

You may be mistaken in thinking that Munch is modelling a modern day poor quality ruff around his woeful pleading face, but to the trained fellow guardians of our furry friends,they will know it is  the cone of shame. Since our partnership, this is his third bout of humiliation of wearing such an undignified device, but needs must. Tough love is sometimes the only true love.

Munch recently had an operation to remove one of his many fatty lumps that are dotted around his body. Luckily, it was a harmless (but huuuge)  lipoma that needed no further action. The blubbery beast had appeared a couple of years ago, but had exploded in size over the last few months. As it was located on his chest not far from where his harness sat, it was decided to remove it and check out what it was.  The cone of shame (to protect him from licking his wound)  made him be in a constant state of reversing, colliding,  and falling. Thankfully, his bumper car like behaviours only lasted a few days until his wound had healed.

Any animal undergoing surgery is a worry, with issues such as recovery times and care needs, considerations, important to the recovery process. With Guide Dogs, life is a little more complex. From operations having to be approved from the charity themselves to figuring out how to get around by  yourself whilst they are on rest, life gets a little tricky. Knowing that I would still be expected to work even when Munch was off sick, brought about the dreaded dilemmas disabled people face when their ‘mobility aids’ are not available.

Just to reassure you all, Munch bounced back after his surgery quicker than anyone expected.  When we picked him up after surgery, he dragged the poor  veterinary nurse behind him as he ran up to give me a cwtch, and a noisy bark filled row for daring to leave him. Once the smoke coming from the nurses heels died down, and Munch had semi forgiven me, he was chauffeured home to a life of pampering where nothing but adoration waited for him. Get well soon cards, gifts, and a 24/7 personal pampering team greeted him. Since the operation, he has been far more energetic , resembling a pup more than his nearing retirement self.

As he sat at home being fanned down and fed possibly a little too many treats, I was in school repeating myself multiple times when questioned , where Munch was. Surprisingly, my  white cane just doesn’t seem to have the same effect on people as Munch does. Getting around with a white cane is easier when I am with someone as navigating cluttered school corridors with pupils whooshing by  is not an easy task at all. Being “the one with the dog” without the actual dog, is never an easy one to explain to others. Questions layered on top of questions fill the day. From “when will he be back in school” to “can you get white canes that you can control like robots????”, no question is forbidden from the sighted souls that filled my blurry world.

Having this snippet into what life will be like when Munch retires is not the easiest feeling to welcome, but will be a reality far sooner than I want it to be. Life pre Munch was tougher than I ever wanted to admit. A blessing I have, though, is knowing that even when he retires within the next 2 years, I have a personal pampering team within my family that will look after Lord Munch to the highest of standards.

Now that he is back in harness sashaying with sass, it may be possible that he is just a little bit more demanding and commanding  than before. The operation has allowed him to bounce back better than before and allow his  true colours to infect all those he comes in contact with.

Cheesy Grins In Little Wins

Tags

Acceptance, Access, Animals, Animals and Children, Blind, Blindness, Children and animals, Counselling, Disability, Diversity, Dog, Education, Equality, Great teacher, Guide Dog, Hidden Disability, Kindness, Munch, Pets

The new academic year for us usually means a few changes in the way we work. From updates on our record keeping systems (which luckily my speech software helps me figure out) , to change in schools that we work in. With a total of 107 schools in our county that we cover, (primary, secondary and specialist  schools), the need to change schools is inevitable. This term, we have been placed back in a primary school, and we are both loving it.

Being the only six legged pair that works in our county in our role, some people have heard of us even before we have our first day somewhere. So when happy hairy Munch trotted into our new primary school with me traipsing behind him laden down with bags for the day, no Introduction were needed. The staff were happy to see us , although possibly they were more happy having a new four-legged staff member than the predicable two- legged one. Munch’s picture was emailed over to all the year groups to introduce him to all the pupils, which was such a lovely gesture. When walking around the school throughout the day , we passed groups of children who were only too happy to say hello to Munch from a distance.

Receiving a warm welcome makes it so much easier to fit in an alien place that takes a while to create mental maps for. Rehearsal is key in us knowing how to get around safely. , Munch will remember a route first time around, but it takes me a couple of attempts to remember where slops, steps, doors, and landmarks are. Using touch to find doors and furniture and locate and operate security pads is just normal to me but must look strange to others. I always wonder what that used to look like to the onlooker before I had Munch and used to get around with just memory maps and subtle touch. At least with Munch by my side, I feel like I can be more open to the sighted that I have my own unique way of getting around in our shared space.

We have had many questions from the children since we started, that are too priceless not to share. Here are just some intriguing questions that we have been asked by children in work over the last six years.

Does Munch wash his paws after he uses the toilet in school?

Has, Munch ever had detention?

What does Munch wear on non school uniform day?

Does he have homework?

Is Munch part of a rugby team?

Has he ever been bullied or fallen out with friends?

Has he ever said a naughty word?

Who is his favourite teacher?

Does he eat school dinners or bring a lunchbox with him?

From the list of questions, you can see that the younger children seem to see past his canine shell and see him as an equal. When my granddaughter was four, we dropped her off in school, her teacher asked her what the name of my dog was. She was puzzled at first and, after a while said “that’s not a dog, he’s Munch” . Being accepted into our place of work always feels like a win like this, and this lovely new school setting is no different

As I am deep in my mind mapping world in work to get around safely, I know that Munch is doing his part to keep these little wins alive. For me, independent living is only possible due to Munch’s omnipresent loyalty as he patiently waits for me to get used to newness that we are constantly gifted with. Long live the cheesy grins in our little wins 😁

My Blurfect Life

Tags

Acceptance, Alternative, Awareness, Blind, carefree, Diversity, Equality, Gratitude, Guide Dog, Hidden Disability, Inner Peace, Life lessons, Non Judgemental Attitude, Sight Loss, vision, Visual Impairement

Having blurred vision from birth has had its blessings.

As up to 80% of our impressions rely on sight, so having to rely on other senses, I have been able to view a different life to most. I have always thanked my alternative vision for not being able to join in with toxic judgment of others. When others around me would comment negatively on the appearance of others, I would remain silent and thank the universe that I was not blessed with functional vision to cruely judge.

I have never felt that I have missed out on anything significant in life due to being born with a sight impairement. Not being able to drive leads to stress free travel. Travelling to sightsee has never felt like an option when you can travel to more than landmarks in your imagination anytime. Not being able to see the facial expressions of people when I say or do the wrong thing is greatly appreciated always. Therefore, when my opthalmic surgeon advised recently that my grade 3 cataract is pretty inoperable, my world didn’t fall apart. In fact, I had not really noticed that it was living happily in my eye anyway due to being severely sight Impaired.

For the general population with healthy eyes, cataract surgery is a pretty straightforward operation with a very high success rate. For those of us with preexisting eye conditions, things get a little more tricky when being offered surgery. With Marfan Syndrome, due to the impact of the condition on the connective tissue in the body, complications are more likely. When I had my first eye surgery in 2000, the complications from the surgery caused far more damage than expected and left scarring and the need for a lensectomy. News of not being able to operate, therefore, was more of a relief than a curse.

My opthalmic surgeon spoke about the only small possibility to operate would be to have two teams on standby in surgery as he was uncertain what the eye was like until he went in. Even if the cataract surgery was a success, there could be no guarantee that my vision would improve due to my eye/brain connection insufficiently developing from birth. In short, I could have amazing surgery to restore vision, but my eye /brain connection still wouldn’t be able to play ball in helping me to see clearly.

Having never been able to see things around me clearly is not a problem for me, really, as I know no different. A sighted individual may see this as something that needs to be ‘fixed’ due to their only frame of reference they have in life, is centred around sight. My only frame of reference is sight loss, and fixing that is something that would cause more problems that it would solve if it ever miraculously could be ‘fixed’

I have lived 46 years, ‘seeing’ the world differently. Blobs and blurs make sense to me. Having to learn a whole new way of interpreting these blobs and blurs into the visual world would be challenging, to say the least. Having an open discussion with my surgeon about this was refreshing . He explained that I have never had ‘good enough’ vision throughout life, and that is perfectly okay. My cataract will soon become hypermature as it reaches stage 4 (I wonder if it will be entitled to its own pension?) and obscure my lack of vision even more and it doesn’t bother me at all.

Surrendering to the inevitable is the most freeing thing you could possibly do. The immense feeling of peace in acceptance of even the most challenging of life changes can allow life to be lived harmoniously. Living your own unique life path alongside the masses helps strengthen essential resilience in life that will get you through tough times. My blurfectly full life is blurfect just as it is.