Carol,

Praying for peace in this situation. I don't have a guide dog so not sure
of the hoops they require you to jump through. When I was checking out the
blindness adjustment school I went to, a lady walked  or rather rolled in
with a wheelchair swinging a cane, all by her self, and another guy I know
who was the hubby of one of the instructor's also attended college being
blind and no legs and used a wheelchair. I'm not guessing a wheelchair, but
I am suggesting that these people, less independent presumably than
yourself by natural or ignorant thinking, were able to carry on and you too
then ought be encouraged that you can always carry independence, perhaps
not just as you've known so far. I remember the husband of the instructor
when I first met him. I could still see fairly well yet but loosing sight
and when I met him he turned around to shake my hand or say "hi", he was in
his wheelchair and I was standing and he looked me straight in the eyes. I
naturally thought he could see something and mentioned in passing that fact
when talking with others. They corrected me and said he couldn't see a
thing. He lost his legs and sight in a farm accident involving a combine
and he'd jump off the couch using his arms as crutches and he'd swing his
way around the room for what ever he wanted. Made me feel like I had hope
as I was coming into blindness with unsureness of what to expect. He was
attending college and I believe finally graduated. Anyway, do not let the
fear of losing your independence get to you, you  can still have it.

Brad

At 01/04/2004 on Sunday, carol pearson wrote:
>Hi All,
>
>Please will you pray.  I need it.  For those of you who are guide dog
>owners, you will understand a little better, perhaps, but you'll all get the
>gist by the time I've written this . . ..  It may be a little long so skip
>if you want to.
>
>As most of you know, because of my back problems, I have worked my present
>guide dog (number 4)in a limited manner (short walks, stopping and starting,
>sometimes unable for some periods of time).  He's well established and is
>now beginning to come up to retirement (being ten in April).  Incidentally,
>I've had a guide dog for almost 34 years and for over ten of those I
>actually worked at Guide Dogs and spent another 10 working voluntarily.
>
>Bottom line:  I have been harrassed by them for a while now as they've been
>wanting to see me frequently, to check everything's OK.  I accept I can only
>do a little for them each visit and we all know (unless God acts for me)
>then this will be my last dog and then I probably won't be able to go out
>alone at all.
>
>I'm just not coping with this.  I was asked to see them on a date just
>before Christmas and ligitimately put it off because it was the busyest week
>of the year and there was no way I could fit any more in.  I still am
>limited, physically, as well as with my back, and get too tired to cope if I
>put in too much.
>
>Now they want to see me again either a week on Monday (which will follow a
>really horrendous weekend for me) or the next day.  To be honest, I don't
>want to see them at all.  I feel constantly "hassled" by them and know that,
>although it will be hard, I won't let Fabian go on past his ability to do
>so.
>
>I just need your prayers because this is bringing out all the wrong sort of
>feelings from me and I'm not liking the situation one bit.  I have to make a
>response tomorrow (or perhaps Tuesday at the latest) and this is all beyond
>me!
>
>As it is, I'm becoming very stressed at going out alone at all and can't
>manage a long cane because of my back problems, but I don't really want to
>give up all my independence either!
>
>Thanks for your support.
>
>
>--
>Carol