Cateract Surgery

Cateract surgery went well the day before yesterday. it is healing well. It will take take a few weeks to see any major improvements. However, I can already see better in the operated eye than the other (That used to be my better eye. The surgery does NOT correct the disease in the eye (RP-Retinitis Pigmentosa). The tunnel vision is still there and the "Foggy vision is still ther. This is a complicated disease. See the link to the Foundation Fighting Blindness to see a good description of retinal diseases and there effect on vision: http://www.blindness.org/

Expectations

T This is SKIPPY, my Yorkie that passed away a few years ago....he is at the Raiinbow Bridge!

I have doing some research and asking a lot of questions and have a better idea on what to expect the first few days at guide dog school.

July 18th Saturday: Arrival by lunch time and orientation

July 19th Sunday: More orientation and "JUNO" walks

JUNO walk is when the instructor takes hold of the harness and leads

you around as you learn the commands and feel for the harness. This

is a grea time to learn the basics BEFORE you get the dong and maybe confuse it

with incorrect or incomplete commands.

July 20th Monday: Woo Hoo. Dogs are disbursed and I will finally meet my new friend

and companion. This happens usually after lunch.

Of course this is what has happened in the past...I will give the the real scoop as it happens.

Keep watch here for more...

Great News!

The August 29th date for my stay at guide dog school has been moved up to JULY 18th!!

YIKES...that's only a few weeks away! Lots to do before going away for 26 days! So much to do, so little time.

This is exciting, as I really did not want to wait until the end of August to get this project underway. It will be hotter than I planned to be during all the outdoor training.

As I understand it, we will be out in the town of Morristown everyday. YIKES...gotta get those summer cloths out!



Celebration time! Keep posted for more of this exciting journey! I will have a picture of me and the dog as soon as possible



School starts on July 18th and us students will get their dogs on Monday, July 20th. We have no choice of the name or breed, and won't know until that day. The three major breeds used are Labs, Goldens and Shepards.



You can check out the facility at : http://www.seeingeye.org/

Went to Atlanta to a conference and met someone who went to the Seeing Eye school in Morristown.. She was helpful in passing on some information that will be handy when I go in August! Thanks Cindy!!

Independence at Stony Point

So, I had the O&M training and I now can get across the Stony Point Campus myself!! Woo Hoo!! From our little house "Leber" to the main building is a breeze now.

Thank God for O&M training! Can't wait for the dog...I can RUN across campus! haha

O&M Training today!

Today, the Rockland County dept. for the visually inpaired is coming to the Stony Point Center campus. Jayne will be helping me to get aroubnd with the cane. So, hopefully I can get to and from the main building by myself! My sister visited a couple of weeks ago and we placed some painted rocks...that helps a lots. It is just when it is a bright sunny day OR dark night....I cannot trust the little vision I have left.

So....still waiting for August 29th and getting my guide dog!

3 Months to go! Mobility Traing.

SO, we still have June,July and August to wait to go to Guide Dog school...I can't wait!!!
In the meantime...the Rockland County dept. for the visually impaired is really slow at providing services. I need help in "Cane Training" to help me find my way around campus.
Hey....it' a problem when you can't find where the food is.....haha!