Pain

Why is it sometimes I just want to ease the pain through unconventional ways!! 

Things are really getting me down lately. Eyes are are getting worse and I’m struggling just walking down the street. Not knowing who is passing me by or waving at me from the other side of the road. Horns beep and I don’t know if it’s someone I know or some random person beeping at someone else (doubt I’ll get beeped at for being good looking lol). Times are getting bad. Keep a look out for me guys with my white stick. Like I said before, lead me straight to the bar. I may need one at this point. 

Kim x

Eyes that light the night!

Well where do I start. This is my first blog, so perhaps I shall start by telling you a little about myself.

I am a 34 year old woman, who works with vulnerable children. I have been doing so for the past 16 years. I love my job even though at times it can be draining, demanding and very emotional. It also has lots of positives, as I get to see some children blossom and thrive even though they have been through hell previously.

About 5years ago I realised that something was wrong with my eyes. The only way I can explain it, is that I was looking through a tunnel with one eye in HD whilst my other eye was looking through an old grainy picture. I visited my local optician where I underwent 3 hours of tests. It was their conclusion that I had a detached retina and sent me for an emergency appointment at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital. Thankfully I didn’t have a detached retina but I was diagnosed with Posterior Uveitis (an inflammation at the back of my eyes, which has caused a bleed). This bleed had already taken away some of my sight. I was given lots of steroids and immune suppressants to take. I was also given an injection (steroids) into my eye to bring down the inflammation. Ouch!! That hurt. Leaving me with a black eye for a while. Anyway this continued for about 18mths before my consultant decided that he would refer me to Bristol Eye Hospital to see Professor Andrew Dick as they were running out of options in the Royal Glam.

To cut a very long story short, the Prof and his team in Bristol (an amazing team may I add) have found that I not only have posterior uveitis but also Retinal Degeneration. I have been told that I will go blind. I am going through a process at the moment called IVIG which will hopefully slow down or hopefully halt my sight loss for as long as possible. The downfall to this procedure is, it cost £24.000 each time I have it and the Welsh Health Board don’t seem to like giving over the money to an English Hospital.

I will keep my blog updated as to how this goes.

But I tell you this. I will not be someone sat in the house and refusing to go out just because of my blindness. When the day comes that I do completely lose my sight then you will see me rocking my blinged out white stick around town. If you do see me, lead me straight to the bar, I’ll have a large rośe wine please!

A little thought to leave you with: Who cleans up guide dogs poo? Answers below please 👍x