Blindscentz: Anniversaries

September is a month of many anniversaries. I would like to start with a message of utmost gratitude to my heart donor and their family. Without their incredible loss and thoughts of care and giving at a most difficult time, I would not be here. It has been the gift of this family that has been the largest driver helping me to get back-up and live my best life!

I received my heart transplant on the first day of fall 2022.The beginning of autumn often symbolizes reflection, letting go and transformation.  Spirituality it represents the transition from growth and abundance to introspection and gratitude. As leaves fall it encourages releasing that which no longer serves us, embracing change and preparing for inner growth  during the quieter and darker months ahead. It is a season to harvest lessons learned, find balance and connect with the natural cycle of life, death, and renewal.

In reflection I know that in those first few days after I awoke blind from the surgery I was in shock and denial. The mind is a wonderful thing, allowing me to only take on as much as I could manage to get through the incredible healing and metamorphosis before me. I was quite emotionally frozen. I spent most of fall and winter in the hospital dreaming on how I would grow. It is the decay of fall and winter that provides the fertilizer that allows the seeds to grow in the spring.

I have said before that before I accomplished any advancement in my progress that I dreamed it one thousand times. The journey began with me saying I have a glass. As I write this the grief still does flow from my eyes. I use the grief to fuel my every act of being. Being true to my life, my purpose and gratitude.

Many people have said to me that there is no way they would have gotten off the couch if they had experienced vision loss. My response has evolved over the past three years from horror, disgust at the pity or my current response; you never will know how you will traverse adversity until it is before you. Necessity is a powerful motivator. My motivator was to live life.   Lucky for me that in my preparation for the heart transplant that I dedicated so much time to dreaming of the life I would live. That dream included climbing mountains. Boy have I ever climbed a few metaphorical mountains lately!

During one of many procedures one of my doctors nicked my femoral artery. He had to put heavy pressure on the site for twenty-minutes. As always, I had my way of getting through the bad. I started dreaming. I talked him into doing the Grouse Grind with me. I had big hopes of doing it that first year – yes, they call me a dreamer! I am now planning the big event for September 2026. I hope to have BC Transplant, BC Kidney Foundation and CNIB along with Vision Loss Canada to be there to share the awareness of the power of their organizations. I hope my story of courage, strength and resilience  can encourage more people to face their challenges in lie. I hope to bring awareness to the importance of transplant and the organizations that support them. I also hope to bring awareness to how strong and able the blind and low vision community is with the support of organizations like CNIB and Vision Loss Canada.

I have one year to train. You, my community can help me with a few things. I want to make a few video recordings of me training for the Grind. I also need help with social media posts and a campaign. I have it mapped out with roles, schedules, and list of organizations to get started. I am particularly good with organization leadership. It will be little work with hands of many. If you are interested, please reach out to blindscentz22@gmail.com. Any offers of  help would be appreciated.

As I mark this important milestone, I am truly embracing the symbolism of fall and harvesting all life has given me to plant seeds for a richer tomorrow filled with strength of community!

 Edwina Nearhood is a long time Fort St. John resident sharing her vision loss journey.  Please remember, every person’s vision loss experience is as unique as they are.