Thank Jesus I’m blind . . . In 1994 at age two I lost my eyes to a childhood disease called retinoblastoma—which is cancer in both eyes. At age three I taught myself echolocation—where I use sound to see. I ride bikes, skate, and play video games—you name it. I do it—or at least give it a try.
It isn’t so bad being blind—you just learn to see differently.
Others believe that blindness is a disability. I’ll tell you the truth: being blind is more of an “advantage.” I don’t see what you see, like others being treated terribly because of the evil hearts that constantly beat among us.
All I want to do is love others and show people how to see with eyes closed—looking through the heart.
We used to care so much about others, but the number has dropped dramatically. As our hearts harden, our eyes close. To open our eyes we must soften our hearts towards others. If you soften your heart, you will see into others’ hearts and feel what they feel.
I kept encouraging the staff that blind kids can play ball, video games, and other activities that sighted kids do
Believing and drawing closer to Jesus is how I became softhearted — to the point where I care. Seeing what you see everyday, you have become used to the “torture” that others go through. I do not “see” these things. I do know what is going on, but not seeing these tortures helps me stay a more loving and kind-hearted person.I thank God I’m blind because I see others for who they are by their hearts, and you see one another with your eyes, which sometimes are blinded. I remind those going through trying times in their lives that there are still people concerned about them. I thank God I am blind because I truly understand that whether no eyes, no legs, autistic, mentally challenged, or whatever the difference is, we are truly all the same. God loves each one of us unconditionally and wants us to learn to see one another through the eyes of God. Sometimes looking through a blind person’s eyes can truly teach us to see each other as we see ourselves. Thank God I am blind.I was again diagnosed with this cancer—retinoblastoma (this time without eyes)—at age 16. This cancer started in the sinus cavity and entered my brain, but was still the same ordeal that I endured when I was two years old.
Going through cancer this time I lost my hair from the chemo treatments, and I have a scar from ear-to-ear from the surgery. Through all that I’ve endured I thank God I’m blind. I can’t actually see what these changes in my appearance look like—so it doesn’t matter. I hear others crying because of their hair loss, or scarring, worried what other people will think about their looks. I don’t worry about my appearance—I can’t see. Thank God I am blind. When I was 13 I went to a school for the blind for my seventh grade school year. My mother thought it would be a good idea for me to experience being around other blind children. This school wasn’t in Sacramento where I lived, so I had to leave home every Sunday in the early evening, and come home Friday night—only to be home on the weekends. They taught me a lot of technology, math, and other learning activities. We also went to the local junior high for a couple of classes every day.As a teenager I learned how blind individuals are treated—or maybe the word is taught. My experience there wasn’t very enjoyable. I found out that blind people are expected to “be” a certain way.
Blind students at this school traveled in groups: the guide was in front with the cane going left to right, with everyone else kind of holding onto one another, trusting the front cane traveler to guide the rest. Well, I hadn’t traveled like this before. I traveled independent of a cane, or used a sighted guide like my brother or a friend. Once I brought a big rubber ball to the school, and was told that I couldn’t bring balls because someone might get hurt. I thought all kids played with balls. I called my mom and told her that I couldn’t go to this school—because I wasn’t like them.I don’t consider myself blind—I just can’t see. You see, my family didn’t tell me there was anything different about being blind or sighted. They treat me just like a sighted person. I guess I consider myself sighted in a way because I believe anything that you can do—I can do better.
I kept encouraging the staff that blind kids can play ball, video games, and other activities that sighted kids do. I continued to insist that we be treated like everyone else. After consistently pursuing equality of treatment for the blind, the staff finally softened up and began to allow the blind students to do more outside activities. One thing I enjoyed about the school for the blind was that the students didn’t judge one another on their appearance—because no one could see. That was actually a very good attribute. What a great experience. Thank God I’m blind.Once my mother asked me what it was like being blind. She thought that if she turned out the light in the bathroom and closed her eyes— that would be similar to being blind. I told her that it wasn’t the same. For me being blind is actually “nothingness.” I don’t think that a sighted person can comprehend what nothingness looks like. Although my sight is nothingness, my mother has described the world to me and showed me what things look like. Because of my family I actually have a “visual” of the world. While they showed me the world they showed me independence.
When my brother Derius was eight years old he taught me how to find my tags and the seams of my clothing so that I could dress myself properly. My sister Tiffany has been there for me. My brother Isaiah is three years younger than I am and he showed me everything he saw. Joe is my oldest brother—and he thought he was my “daddy.” He tried to tell me what to do—so we fought all the time. I love my family because they see me the same as they are—not as a blind brother but as their brother. My family has been there for me. They treat me in such a way that I can echo—and no one complains about the sound. I think they don’t complain because with my echo I can ride my own bike—and none of them has to ride me. I think they made sure that I was self-sufficient because it gave them the freedom of not having to take care of me.
I am so glad that they did what they did. Sometimes I feel sorry for blind kids who don’t get the opportunity to enjoy their childhood as a child should. I thank God I’m blind. I’ve heard from people all around the world about my echolocation. Most people are truly encouraged about me being independent and using echolocation. However, some blind people feel that I am “mocking the blind. “I just want to tell the world that I don’t have anything against using a cane—it just isn’t for me. I’m 16 years old and the cane sort of gets in my way when I’m “traveling.”I do understand that there are “blind” world travelers, professors, and very successful blind individuals, and I pray that as our world continues to turn, individuals are not categorized by their disability. I feel that we should look at each individual’s “difference” and not see a “disability.”As God’s creation we need to learn to love and encourage one another—not discourage a person who doesn’t look like you, walk, talk, nor see like you. No one deserves to be categorized and put in a disability box. Because I’m blind I don’t see the appearance of a person— I see beyond that. I see individuals for who and what they are. I truly THANK GOD I’M BLIND.
