Years later
The years that followed I denied that I really had anything wrong with my eyes until 3 years ago. I was now 18 years old and I met my boyfriend. We had a lot of fun together, went to amusement parks, watched movies and went out to eat a lot. Mine friend and his mother noticed that I was making a lot of effort, for example
to read the subtitles on films and when walking between small things. This was followed by a hard battle with myself: I saw 80%, 20% less than them, well that was just the way it was. But my boyfriend and my mother-in-law told me to have it checked again, maybe it had reduced. Together with them I went to the ophthalmologist in the village. This could not measure anything, my eyes were fine, but my vision was still poor. He didn't understand and sent me to the ophthalmologist at the hospital. I quickly thought, not again, I don't feel like doing this! And yes, some more tests. Still, he didn't trust it, which is why I became angry in 2019 Bartimeus sent. I was given several tests and there was the 'rescuing' answer: I have ADOA. And what did I think? I was shocked and didn't understand it at all. After this I received a lot of explanation and we did not understand why the UMC had treated me this way. But hey, that was the past!
The future
Now I could finally look ahead. Although I often find that difficult. I often think: 'If I start training now in what I want, will I be able to do this job in 2 years or will my eyesight have deteriorated again? I received and continue to receive guidance in this. They came to my home to explain things to those who are close to me and who can guide me well. They have ensured that I can do my work well by adjusting my workplace slightly. My computer has also been adjusted with the colors and I have been given tricks that I benefit from a lot. I recently started wearing filter glasses with a light transmittance of 11%, which helps to reduce the many headaches and fatigue caused by light and exertion. I can't really accept it yet, I now see about 35%. What if I didn't have this, life would be a lot simpler Despite that, there are also a lot of beautiful things and it is easier for me to indicate what is going on or if I need help: 'I just don't see it!'
I am very grateful to my friend and mother-in-law, who help me enormously through this sometimes difficult struggle, just like my father, by, for example, reading letters that are too small, holding my hand in the dark so that I don't have to concentrate too much or just listening when I'm having a hard time and too much struggles experience. But above all, accept me for who I am and help me as much as possible!
