I had a successful career as an environmental health manager in London.
I
had
a
successful
career
as
an
environmental
health
manager
in
London
.
But my life changed beyond recognition at the age of 35.
But
my
life
changed
beyond
recognition
at
the
age
of
35
.
I was born 50% deaf in both ears.
I
was
born
50
%
deaf
in
both
ears
.
But my world was totally transformed when I was diagnosed with deafness and eventual blindness.
But
my
world
was
totally
transformed
when
I
was
diagnosed
with
deafness
and
eventual
blindness
.
It was my wife Elizabeth who first noticed there was a problem.
It
was
my
wife
Elizabeth
who
first
noticed
there
was
a
problem
.
She moved a pencil past my face and was shocked to discover I couldn't see it unless it was directly in front of me.
She
moved
a
pencil
past
my
face
and
was
shocked
to
discover
I
could
n't
see
it
unless
it
was
directly
in
front
of
me
.
My eyesight had been failing for years but I simply hadn't noticed.
My
eyesight
had
been
failing
for
years
but
I
simply
had
n't
noticed
.
I couldn't imagine how my life could get any worse, but in fact it has improved immeasurably.
I
could
n't
imagine
how
my
life
could
get
any
worse
,
but
in
fact
it
has
improved
immeasurably
.
Of course, coming to terms with it was hard at first.
Of
course
,
coming
to
terms
with
it
was
hard
at
first
.
My first reaction was denial, followed by severe depression.
My
first
reaction
was
denial
,
followed
by
severe
depression
.
I had built effective coping strategies to deal with my hearing loss; losing my sight, too, just felt too much to handle.
I
had
built
effective
coping
strategies
to
deal
with
my
hearing
loss
;
losing
my
sight
,
too
,
just
felt
too
much
to
handle
.
You absorb so much information about the world through your eyes, so the idea of that being taken away was terrifying.
You
absorb
so
much
information
about
the
world
through
your
eyes
,
so
the
idea
of
that
being
taken
away
was
terrifying
.
I spent several days on the sofa, feeling depressed.
I
spent
several
days
on
the
sofa
,
feeling
depressed
.
I felt all my opportunities were reduced.
I
felt
all
my
opportunities
were
reduced
.
But I am very positive and didn't wallow for long.
But
I
am
very
positive
and
did
n't
wallow
for
long
.
I have seen some people react to the news by withdrawing from life, but I chose differently.
I
have
seen
some
people
react
to
the
news
by
withdrawing
from
life
,
but
I
chose
differently
.
I got off the sofa and decided to train as a homeopath.
I
got
off
the
sofa
and
decided
to
train
as
a
homeopath
.
Looking back, I think this was a way of working through my problems.
Looking
back
,
I
think
this
was
a
way
of
working
through
my
problems
.
We left London to start a farm in the country, which I combined with starting my own environmental health business.
We
left
London
to
start
a
farm
in
the
country
,
which
I
combined
with
starting
my
own
environmental
health
business
.
It was just what I needed: clean air, spring water and space.
It
was
just
what
I
needed
:
clean
air
,
spring
water
and
space
.
So many wonderful things have happened so far and now, age 50, I feel that I am living a second life.
So
many
wonderful
things
have
happened
so
far
and
now
,
age
50
,
I
feel
that
I
am
living
a
second
life
.
I aim to remain active and engaged with life.
I
aim
to
remain
active
and
engaged
with
life
.
I don't think of myself as disabled.
I
do
n't
think
of
myself
as
disabled
.
Instead, I've learned to live with them.
Instead
,
I
've
learned
to
live
with
them
.
I had a successful career as an environmental health manager in London. But my life changed beyond recognition at the age of 35. I was born 50% deaf in both ears. But my world was totally transformed when I was diagnosed with deafness and eventual blindness.  It was my wife Elizabeth who first noticed there was a problem. She moved a pencil past my face and was shocked to discover I couldn't see it unless it was directly in front of me. My eyesight had been failing for years but I simply hadn't noticed. I couldn't imagine how my life could get any worse, but in fact it has improved immeasurably.  Of course, coming to terms with it was hard at first. My first reaction was denial, followed by severe depression. I had built effective coping strategies to deal with my hearing loss; losing my sight, too, just felt too much to handle. You absorb so much information about the world through your eyes, so the idea of that being taken away was terrifying. I spent several days on the sofa, feeling depressed. I felt all my opportunities were reduced.  But I am very positive and didn't wallow for long. I have seen some people react to the news by withdrawing from life, but I chose differently. I got off the sofa and decided to train as a homeopath. Looking back, I think this was a way of working through my problems.  We left London to start a farm in the country, which I combined with starting my own environmental health business. It was just what I needed: clean air, spring water and space. So many wonderful things have happened so far and now, age 50, I feel that I am living a second life. I aim to remain active and engaged with life. I don't think of myself as disabled. Instead, I've learned to live with them.