It goes without saying that this has been a very rough year on my family. In particular, my wife. However, since she has been watching me slip into total blindness since 2006 it is quite understandable that being witness to what I once was to what I'm becoming certainly hasn't been easy.


When she first met me, I wasn't light sensitive, I only needed a cane for night travel, and didn't require much adaptive technology. Now, I am quite close to just having the ability to make out light and dark. This, of course, has caused me to have to continuously adapt, which I'm working very hard on doing. The downside is how building upon non-visual skills makes me quite clumsy and she, along with my son, have to see it all while I get better-and-better at not tripping over things, not knowing people are in rooms, being unable to see things that are right in front of me, etc.


This brings me now to this little charm. I had always wanted to get a special piece of jewelery for my wife. She means so much to me and I know it hasn't been easy coping with her husband going totally blind.


In the past, my mom, or someone else, would go out and get something special for my wife when I'd need a surgery, or have a prolonged stay post-operation. This always bothered me. The thoughtfulness is wonderful on their parts, but I want to be the one to show how much it means that, despite 9 years of descending into blindness, she's stuck with me. That, although I can't do as much as I was able when we first met, she hasn't given up on me. That, although I've lost two jobs as a result of my chronic, degenerative condition she has never asked for a divorce.


So, squeezing as much vision as I could, I went on eBay and sought out this particular charm. I can't make a whole lot out. However, I do believe it is a baby chick in an egg. As it was a used piece, I was able to get it at 50% off.


I know I shouldn't be splurging when I have all sorts of medical bills flying my way on a monthly basis, but it meant a lot to finally be the one to get my wife a piece of jewelery. More importantly, I want it to help symbolize "Hope". Hope that, no matter what comes of my condition to our family, that everything will be alright and how I'm far from finished. To show that I will hatch anew with new goals, opportunities, and abilities as a father and husband long after the lights go out.