When Sarah was 36, she was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration.
While rare for someone of Sarah’s age, macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in Australians over 50 years old.
Before her vision loss, Sarah ran her own business providing daily care and support for people with disabilities and survivors of strokes.
During the 2020 lockdown, Sarah was often away working to support her clients who live on farms and need 24-hour care.
During this period, she went to bed one evening and the next morning found that something was wrong with her vision.
“Everything was dark and blurry. I just finished up my work, but on the drive home I knew something was quite wrong,” she said.
Sarah got in contact with Vision Australia through the Lions Eye Institute where she was seeking support for her for ophthalmological care.
“Once I got in contact with Vision Australia doors just started opening which was really lovely for me.”
Family support
With Sarah’s vision deteriorating, her life is ever changing and she has had to adapt by learning to use a white cane and relies on her family for support.
She and her husband Caleb have been married for 10 years and she has two children, Tanner and Maizy. They love being outdoors, going camping, four-wheel driving around Western Australia and doing things together as a family.
“My vision loss has made us not want to be apart. It’s such an earth-shaking diagnosis when you are going blind. It really changes your life perspective,” Sarah said.
Walking for a cause
Sarah is taking part in Vison Australia’s 100K Your Way this April. Sarah is going to walk and work out at the gym to reach her 100K goal to help others who are blind or have low vision stay independently mobile.
She has been blown away by the support she has received, including one generous supporter who donated a Fitbit to Sarah so she could easily record her kilometres towards her goal.
“It was so kind and sweet and thoughtful,” she commented.
“I hate exercise but I do it to be with other people, I’m having a social interaction and improving my mental health which is so important.”
Looking to the future
Sarah has been coming to terms with her diagnosis for the past three years and has been utilising the services available through Vison Australia.
“I think Vison Australia has just given me a bit of hope that this is not a dead end. I think that your sight is so precious, and losing it is scary.
Vision Australia injects hope, making services available for people to talk about vision loss has been incredible. I’ve had two occupational therapists come to my house, which has been a real blessing in a very dark moment in my life. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I’m so grateful for that."
If you’d like to support Sarah with her 100K Your Way challenge, you can donate here.