LIVING WITH STARGARDTS DISEASECourtney's Story
Updated November 23, 2008 I went to an all girl private high school against the will of my doctors. Private schools don't cater to certain needs very well. I had many meetings with all my teachers, simply asking to make handouts and tests in a bigger font. You would have thought I asked them to give me a million dollars. They always forgot about it and I just sucked it up and took the test anyway. The school counselor started taking me out of class to talk to me about my "problem". I didn't think of it as a problem at that point. I just needed a little bit of assistance that wasn't there. I did drama for all 4 years of high school. My senior year I noticed that I wasn't able to do the lighting the way I used to. I couldn't see everything on the computer screen so someone else had to design the lighting. I was crushed. I diidn't apply to colleges because I didn't think it woul d be worth my while. I wanted to be a flight attendant and I was told I wouldn't be able to. I went to a junior college for a year but it just got to be too much as I am not one to ask for special treatment anymore due to my lack of understanding in high school. I worked as a waitress for a couple of years and one of our regular customers had Stargardts so I get a chance to talk to him a lot and just try to cope. In 2005 I started work at SONY Electronics as a helpdesk agent. I have since been promoted to managaer of the helpdesk. This was such a big deal to me because it was something I was told I wouldn't be able to do. Working on a computer while visually handicapped is not as easy task but I've been able to manage. I haven't told many people in the office of my condition and usually just say I forgot my glasses if anyone mentions how close I am to the monitor. Doctors would tell me that I would need a backup plan for a career and I am working on that but at the moment I am very happy with my job and how far I have come with it and look forward to what the future may hold. The past few years my condition has progressed and I am past the 20/400 mark with my contacts and am losing some color vision but I almost feel like I am getting the hang of it. Even though I can tell it is getting worse, I am getting better. There are still a lot of things that get to me. Not being able to drive is probably the hardest but my family and friends have been beyond supportive which makes it a lot easier. My parents want me to go to a support group but I don't think I will ever be able to do that. I figured I'd give this a try. Feel free to e-mail me. I'd love to hear from anyone and everyone. :-) Courtney |