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Faith in Action of Greater Middletown, NY making a difference
Touching story from a 36-year-old care recipient from Mount Hope, New York.
My name is Carol and I live in beautiful Mount Hope, NY with my husband and two sons. I am thirty-six and my children are eight and five. My son Timothy has Asperger's Syndrome and my youngest, Christopher, is diagnosed with Pervasive Development Disorder. I also live with a painful chronic condition called Ankylosing Spondylitis, an autoimmune disorder where my body attacks itself. My spine's incurrence has caused nerve damage down both my legs and arms.
While driving one night in February of 2005, my vision became inconsistent. I washed my glasses, cleaned the windshield, windows, and mirrors thoroughly. Passing headlights were blinding and I couldn't see for long periods of time after a car would pass. I prayed all the way home and the next morning, a film covered my eyes. I thought it would pass but the next day it remained. After days of enduring this film over my eyes, I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with Punctate Inner Choroidopathy and Macular Degeneration, a rare condition. The film was a result of vitreous detachments. Through my eyes, objects looked melted or missing. Some people would appear to have only one eye or be missing limbs. It was so bad that I didn't want to see anything anymore. The Director of Development Disabilities Services of Orange County Department of Mental Health, who counsels my children, referred me to Faith in Action of Greater Middletown. The Program Director, Doris Rubinsky, came to my home and advised a plan to help me remain independent. She introduced me to a wonderful family who now volunteers to grocery shop for me. This was a huge load off of my shoulders.
Doris called one day to follow up with me. I mentioned that my eye specialist recommended a special pair of eyeglasses and that I should schedule an appointment with an optometrist. Doris suggested a local low-vision specialist. I went, and the glasses I needed were valued at $1,000, and seemed too expensive. We are already in debt and I felt even if I could obtain credit approval, I'd rather use it for my boys. The next time Doris called, I mentioned that I had fallen down my stairs two days prior to Christmas because my eyes hadn't adjusted to the light. I broke my nose, ruptured an ear drum, had two black eyes, and bruises covered my face for weeks. Doris contacted Glenice, a volunteer driver and member of the Lions Club, to see if she could help. Glenice later contacted me and said the Lions Club may be able to help pay for the glasses. In addition, Glenice was going to make the appointment and drive me to the doctor! The optometrist said he could make a pair of indoor glasses to ease the light. I was given a discounted price of $539 for the glasses and the Lions club donated $500! Once the eyeglasses were ready, Glenice arranged to pick me up immediately to get them.
I put on the new eyeglasses and instantly, it seemed like the room opened up. I remember the trees as we drove down Mount Hope Road. It was wonderful. When I came home, I recall washing my hands, looking down, and noticing the tube of toothpaste next to the sink and how clear it was. I saw the details on other products on the counter. I later flipped the pages of a book, amazed that I was seeing! I then opened the curtains; I saw the grass outside the driveway, the road, and the mailbox. I called my mother and Doris Rubinsky to tell them. I was seeing more! My coffee pot was beautiful! I asked my husband to take me to a store. He asked, "Where?" and I said, "Anywhere! Anywhere that I can just go to so that I can see more things!" I wanted to see everything that I could get my eyes on. I was so thrilled! I even called some friends together to celebrate.
Although the new glasses have not healed my eye condition, they have helped me in more ways than I ever expected. I cannot drive, as I still see blind spots. Little did I know that the day that I went to the meeting for respite for my children, it would lead me to Doris Rubinsky of Faith in Action of Greater Middletown, who connected me to wonderful volunteers like the family who shops for me and Glenice. I feel blessed that my life has changed. God bless you all!