Being Blind

While on campus we listened to a Graduate Guest Speaker - Suzy Wilburn with her Guide Dog, Carson.

They have been partners for 3 years.

Suzy very kindly shared her story with us.

She had been a very athletic teen and grew into a fiercely independent woman. At the age of 27 her vision started to decline due to a recessive genetic disease. She denied it as long as she could, but eventually had to succumb to the reality of being blind. It lead to 8 years of isolation and depression. 

Finally she reached out for help and eventually landed a job at Guide Dogs for the Blind. She is currently the Director of Admissions and Graduate Services. She loves it - because she is the Gate Keeper and closely screens the applicants. As a Puppy Raiser, that makes me happy to know that she ensures our Guide Dogs go to the best candidates that will take care of our puppies. 

A couple of things hit home for me. One was that she had worried about meeting her Puppy Raiser at Graduation... What if her Puppy Raiser was disappointed in her - that she was not the person that her Puppy Raiser wanted the puppy to go to. WOW! I had looked at it as being nervous if Bucky gets a match - would Bucky remember ME. Not that his Vision Impaired/Blind partner would be nervous meeting me. So it was an interesting perspective I had never thought about. 

The other thing I found interesting was that as good as Carson is, he was not perfect while she stood and spoke to us. But she accepted his occasional fussing and fidgeting with great humour. There is gentleness and clearly love and devotion from both dog and handler, both accepting the small foibles that each of them brings to the partnership.

She said something that I found very touching - she said Carson's Puppy Raiser was a 17 year old girl. She credits that 17 year old girl with saving her life. Suzy said she could not have continued on her life as she was going before she met Carson. Her Guide Dog has given her so much independence and helped her regain her self esteem and self confidence. Not only does she have more independence, it has given her family more freedom too. 

As a Puppy Raiser that had just handed over Bucky's leash to the school, it made me happy to know that if he becomes a Guide Dog, Bucky will dramatically change someone's life..... perhaps even save someone's life... in many different ways.

And that is why Puppy Raisers are able to give their puppies back to the school. It still leaves a sadness in our hearts, but it gives us optimism and pride to have a small role in changing the life of someone we have never met.

There but for the Grace of God go I.....