A Long, Strange Trip (And Fall): Part 2

This article is Part 2 of a 2-part series. You can find Part 1 here.

Previously, I shared a story with you about a trip I took. I mean a real trip, as in a fall, in epic fashion. Was my fall down the flight of stairs because of vision challenges?

A concussion, a brain bleed, and vertigo

Myopic macular degeneration has a way of worming itself into your everyday life and maybe, just maybe, I misjudged what I assumed was the correct step to take.

Regardless, a fall occurred, and I ended up with a mild concussion and a slight brain bleed for extra measure. Headaches and vertigo added to the drama, these ailments staying with me for about 2 weeks.

The frustration of limitations

I have since "recovered" from those maladies and now have physical and occupational therapy. These therapies are to address my balance and reactiveness (as needed to be able to drive again!).

In the meantime, I have a permanent driver, the dear husband that he is. This is only until I am deemed able to drive on my own again. I am very thankful for him in this scenario and appreciative of his help.

I do have to say, I am feeling a little bit frustrated in my being limited in this way. My days can be pretty busy, between all my therapies and Bible study sessions, visits with girlfriends over lunch, coffee and Bunco night with other friends, grocery shopping and trips to the mall. So many places to be and my handy dandy driver to get me there. He does not complain and is ever ready and willing whenever he needs to chauffeur me around.

To be independent is freeing

In just this past week, I had a mini revelation. It was as we were heading out on yet another errand of mine.

Without having a crystal ball to peer into my future, my imagination tends to take over. Living my life with myopic macular degeneration, I am well aware that my vision is not the best. I have been fortunate because my "bad eye" has been stabilized for over 4 years. Every 6 months brings another recheck.

The reassuring words that my "good eye" is still good and the "bad eye" is being maintained seems to be buying me time, where I can still be independent and drive when I need to. Not at night, though, of course; I gave that up years ago. To be independent this way is most definitely freeing.

Making decisions to prepare for a different future

Being able to go and do what I want to do when I want to do it makes me realize I have a lot to be thankful for.

This dependence that I am currently experiencing could be a window into my future, to a time when I simply cannot drive independently and I must rely on other means to be able to get around.

I truly believe I'd better pay more attention to the possibility that this may become my reality and work on making the necessary decisions on how my life could potentially be down the line.