Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Nanaimo BC, Canada
Posts: 1525

Blindness - bad news for me

I just found out today that my sixteen year old brother has a virus affecting his eyes - the doctors say that he'll be completely blind before the end of this year.

That upsets me, we are very close. . . does anyone here have friends who are blind? How do they cope with it? Every time I think about what MY life would be like if I were blind, I just shudder. I feel so sorry for him.

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Anger=Red

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location: canadian rockies
Posts: 1526

quote:

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Originally posted by Freelance:
I just found out today that my sixteen year old brother has a virus affecting his eyes - the doctors say that he'll be completely blind before the end of this year.

That upsets me, we are very close. . . does anyone here have friends who are blind? How do they cope with it? Every time I think about what MY life would be like if I were blind, I just shudder. I feel so sorry for him.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Van Diemen's Land.
Posts: 3607

I am truly sorry to hear about you brother.

I can’t speak from personal experience because none of my close friends or loved ones is blind. But I can sympathize on the point of general helplessness that associates its self with medical problems in loved ones. My mother recently was diagnosed with skin cancer, and it came as a great shock. She seems to me coping well, and it cannot spread throughout the body. Nonetheless it emphasizes how thankful we should all be of what we have. It could all be gone tomorrow. I hope you and your brother get through the next few years with minimal grief.

-Good luck.


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"When did I realize I was God? Well, I was praying and I suddenly realized I was talking to myself."
-Peter O'Toole

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Nanaimo BC, Canada
Posts: 1525

Yeah it really struck me how lucky I am (how lucky we all are), and how I think most of us take it for granted.

I mean think about it. . . you could never look at a cute girl again. . . no more using a computer, except with great difficulty. . . no more snowboarding. These are all things he loves to do, and now they will be taken from him.

It doesn't help that the field he wanted to go into is 3D modelling, and he's currently the 3rd best (high school) 3D Modelling student in BC. . . he had his whole life planned out. . . just got his first car, too.

We should all be thankful for the little things. They are bigger than they seem.

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Anger=Red

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Registered: Nov 2000
Location: Shillington PA USA
Posts: 269

Hey Freelance,
That is a real bummer But it isn't the end of the world, I have a very good friend that plays in the symphony with me who has been blind since he was 13, but is one of the best musicians I have ever heard. So I would say its not the end of the world, its sad and a shame, but its something that can be overcome with loving friends and family, and a whole bucketful of patience.

Hope that helps a bit,

GS

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A conclusion is simply the place where you got tired of thinking.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: WDM, IA
Posts: 2963

Doesn't sound like bad news for you. It sounds like bad news for your brother. In time, I bet you will discover your brother does not want your apathy. I might be so bold in predicting you might possibly hear, "I'm the one that's blind, not you!" at some point in your life.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 100

I am sorry to hear about your brother. When I lived in Fl. a friend of mine was blind and had been for most of her life. She told me once that she learned alot from it and it made her stronger. Her grand mother would not let her give up on living. So what if she could not see there was alot she could do. When I met her she was in Law School now she is a lawyer and a damn good one too. Yet she said the thing that bothered the most was when people showed her pitty because she was blind. So the best info I can give you is help him be strong and let him know he can still be anything he wants to be. Best of luck.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: library
Posts: 19562

May I ask what this viral infection is called and how it is detected?

-m


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I like my soapbox...

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Nanaimo BC, Canada
Posts: 1525

quote:

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Originally posted by The Wraith:
Doesn't sound like bad news for you...

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: WDM, IA
Posts: 2963

There is a big difference between "compassion" and apathy for a condition you have taken on as your own impedement. Regardless, the sentiment you have for me is equally reciprocated. I assure you.

Shouldn't you be off claiming the hunger of the world as your own? Hey, I've got an aunt who has cancer - is that bad news for you, too?

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Van Diemen's Land.
Posts: 3607

Wraith-

How much does infopop pay you to come here and voice your personal opinion?

Also-If you are in your free time: HAHAHAHAHAH.

You spend all day and all night in forums?



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"When did I realize I was God? Well, I was praying and I suddenly realized I was talking to myself."
-Peter O'Toole

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Nanaimo BC, Canada
Posts: 1525

Wraith: You obviously don't have any little bros. of your own. Or if you did, they used to beat you up when you were little.

I'd take a bullet for my brother.

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Anger=Red

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: NH
Posts: 6081

quote:

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Originally posted by The Wraith:
There is a big difference between "compassion" and apathy for a condition you have taken on as your own impedement. Regardless, the sentiment you have for me is equally reciprocated. I assure you.

Shouldn't you be off claiming the hunger of the world as your own? Hey, I've got an aunt who has cancer - is that bad news for you, too?

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: WDM, IA
Posts: 2963

"How much does infopop pay you to come here and voice your personal opinion?"
They don't pay me to voice my personal opinion.

"You spend all day and all night in forums?"
Just in the evenings.

"I'd take a bullet for my brother."
I'd take a bullet for my country and the millions of innocent civilians, including yourself and your brother. Does that make his blindness my bad news? No, it doesn't. It makes it his bad news. Keep up the apathy and a few years from now your brother will beat you up for it. Mark my words.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Van Diemen's Land.
Posts: 3607

quote:

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Originally posted by The Wraith:

[b]"I'd take a bullet for my brother."
I'd take a bullet for my country and the millions of innocent civilians, including yourself and your brother. Does that make his blindness my bad news? No, it doesn't. It makes it his bad news. Keep up the apathy and a few years from now your brother will beat you up for it. Mark my words.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 3539

I am sorry to hear about your brother; I can’t imagine what he must be going through.
I hope the doctors are wrong, I was once told I was going to die in a matter months if I didn’t have a surgery. I didn’t have the surgery, I figured my time was my time and I was on self-destruct mode anyway.
Then after I had my son I got the surgery.
Anyway, what I mean is, the doctors could be wrong but even if they are not his potential to live a happy, whole life is still very much intact. I would suggest the alternative medicine thing too, or at least look in to it.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: zanzibar
Posts: 10414

quote:

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Originally posted by Freelance:
...no more using a computer, except with great difficulty. . .

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 303

I think what Wraith is saying is don't pity him or he will only resent you in the end and I would have to agree. No one wants to be pittied. If anything you need to be strong for him because I'm sure he will need it. Keep his spirits up and try to keep the mood light as much as possible. I'm not saying trip him or anything but you know what I mean. I would hate to suffer from any of this and it does suck beyond belief but wallowing in it won't help anyone. If he's a solid individual then he will make the most of it by turning the negative into a positive. Just think he won't have to watch survivor or Friends anymore. I think if I went blind I would want someone to mess with me and keep me laughing and joking as much as possible to make me realize it's not the end of the world. Are you going to tell me to fuck off too?

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[spam]P H U K E R Z . C O M[/spam]

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: my mother's bloody womb
Posts: 7128

freelance: i'm very sorry for your brother's loss. at least he knows it's going to happen though. so many people are stricken without warning that don't have the time to mentally prepare for it, as he does. has he started looking into other career fields? does he have any other interests he'd like to explore? now would be the time to start down another path.

the wraith: i will not claim that i've seen every post you've made, but the majority of the ones i have seen so far have been very negative. excuse my ignorance, but, if this place and the people here seem so moronic and attention starved to you, why do you keep posting? i don't understand.
you seem like a very educated, intelligent person. yet an outsider from the conversations you've held thus far, like me, would have to see that every post you've made has made YOU the center of attention. that would bring me to the conclusion that it is you who are trying to steal center stage.
i understand that you are new to this forum, and haven't had the time to look through the archives for older posts that you may find more appealing. but what better way to introduce yourself than to share some of your thoughts in an interesting thread of debate?
if your intent thus far has been to educate and enlighten, why would you choose to do it in such an abrasive fashion? you're a very well spoken individual when you choose to be. why do you intentionally choose words and phrasing that only belittle people?

i ask these things without intent of malice, only curiousity. i hope that you will choose to reply in the same courteous fashion that you are being given.

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Not everything is love, and not everything in this place is either forgiven or forgotten. - redguard@blackvault.com

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: zanzibar
Posts: 10414

quote:

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Originally posted by The Wraith:
...Keep up the apathy and a few years from now your brother will beat you up for it. Mark my words.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Van Diemen's Land.
Posts: 3607

quote:

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Originally posted by Anti-Stile:
Are you going to tell me to fuck off too?

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location: canadian rockies
Posts: 1526

quote:

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Originally posted by The Wraith:
Shouldn't you be off claiming the hunger of the world as your own? Hey, I've got an aunt who has cancer - is that bad news for you, too?

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Texas
Posts: 2593

Very sorry to hear about your brother, dear Freelance. You and he are in my prayers this night.

Wraith Dear, School is on:

ap·a·thy
Pronunciation: 'a-p&-thE
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek apatheia, from apathEs without feeling, from a- + pathos emotion -- more at PATHOS
Date: 1603
1 : lack of feeling or emotion : IMPASSIVENESS
2 : lack of interest or concern : INDIFFERENCE

You make no sense.
Give it up.
Go Home.



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Here????? Now??????

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: GA
Posts: 6953

heavy stuff.
i could tell you things will work out.
but honestly, everyone is going to have to adjust.
im sure your brother will be angry, and need to talk about it, and if you are close, YOU most likely will have to be strong for him.
these are the challenges that make us who we are.
you can, and will come through this, be strong. this is what love is all about.

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"Men are all alike--except the one you've met who's different."-Mae West

"Brains are an asset to the woman in love who's smart enough to hide 'em."- also Mae West