Patience and compassion are key when it comes to weathering a storm together.
That鈥檚 according to 91大黄鸭 couple Pauline and Jim Marshall.
Over the years, Jim developed glaucoma, which he had been able to manage well. But then three years ago, he suddenly lost his vision while on a trip to California with his wife Pauline.
鈥淚 think the hardest part was that it happened so suddenly. We鈥檙e both avid cyclists and in January (2017), we were doing really well cycling. Then Jim developed a red-eye and by February, he could no longer drive,鈥� Pauline said.
At first, it felt like they went through all the stages of grief, Pauline explained.
鈥淎t one point, we were told that Jim鈥檚 vision would not be restored鈥ut we kept saying to our ophthalmologist, 鈥楴o, we鈥檙e not going to believe this.鈥�
鈥淎nd so we started a journey of hope and change and adapting and trying to figure out what our new norm was going to be.
鈥淎nd that鈥檚 where we are now.鈥�
Jim said it was difficult and isolating in the beginning. Despite the diagnosis that he won鈥檛 have any vision at all, he is still able to see.
He described his remaining vision as like looking through wax paper, and the world beyond it looking like shadows.
鈥淎s a husband and a father, you鈥檙e always wanting to do things. You鈥檝e got the driving, you鈥檝e got to take care of your family, you鈥檝e got all that and that鈥檚 taken away from you in an instant,鈥� he said.
鈥淏ut once you realize this is your reality, you start to ask, 鈥榃hat can I do and how can I do it?鈥�
鈥淏ecause everything can be done. Everything I did before, I can still do now.鈥�
He may not be able to see the way he did before, but he can adapt and do the things he used to do but with a little more patience and help from Pauline.
Since he can鈥檛 read things on the computer screen or his tablet anymore, he uses apps and functions that read items out loud to him.
He has a specialized magnifying glass with a light that helps him read printed items.
And then there鈥檚 his wife.
鈥淛im chose not to have a seeing-eye dog. And we always joke that I鈥檓 his guide dog. He鈥檚 still very independent, so we try and cook together, but he can still help with preparation,鈥� Pauline said.
Whenever they鈥檙e in a crowded or unfamiliar place, Pauline helps Jim navigate.
As avid cyclists before Jim鈥檚 vision loss, the couple didn鈥檛 want to also lose their sense of outdoor adventure, so they purchased a tandem bike.
Pauline steers and Jim is the muscle behind the pedal.
鈥淲e have always been a team. We worked together, travelled together, and we鈥檙e still a team,鈥� she added.
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