Hi Everybody!

Posted by Tamara-Lynn on 7/22/2012 at 5:05 PM

Hey Everybody! I'm new to this, I would have started this A LOT sooner, but I just discovered this. My name is Tamara and I live in the Southern United States, though I was born in Germany.

This is my story-
When I was about 10 weeks old my mother took me to the doctor for a regular ole' check up. After all the normal tests, the doctor did several other examinations and then explained to my parents that I had Nystagmus, Albinism, and that I was completely blind. A couple months later, the doctor came back and said that I wasn't blind, but could only see shadows. Then, several weeks later, he changed his diagnosis once again and said I was color blind. Then after a couple months, he said I wasn't color blind, however I had very, very bad vision. Ever since, my vision has improved about 10 degrees every year. Right now, my vision is 20:70 in both eyes. After several doctor visits, all doctors have come to the same conclusion that the original doctor was indeed not wrong, but that I was truly born blind and then it progressed and progressed and that is why he kept changing his diagnosis.

Anyways, I am just looking for teens that I can chat with who know what it is like, or just teens who can relate, I guess. I'd love to hear back from you guys! Have a great day!
Tamara

There are currently 25 replies

Re: Hi Everybody!

Hi welcome to teen connect I'm Lindsay, im 18 and I'm legally blind and I have optic nerve atrophy. What do you like to do?
I like to write, go kayaking, do different sports, read and watch movies

Re: Hi Everybody!

Hi Lindsay! I am 16 (I dunno if I already said that) and I love to read, write, ride horses, and volunteer- among many other things.

Re: Hi Everybody!

Hey Tamara. I'm Amber. I am 17 and it seems like we share many of the same interests. I have a horse of my own for the time being. I fell off of her about 5 or so weeks ago and had a really bad concision. Then they found a neck Abnormality which I have apparently had all of my life. I am glad I was wearing my helmet. I will never be able to ride or work with them again. I might be getting a bird this week. I guess I will have to find a hobby less 'dangerous'.

Re: Hi Everybody!

cool, i like a lot of those things too, i've been begging my mom to take me horseback riding. So far she wants me to find one of those ranches that trains horses for the blind to ride one. I like volunteering too, i volunteered at Woods of terror last year and scared all these people. That was so much fun can't wait to do it again this year.
Amber,
I'm sorry about what happened with your horse, i know you love them a lot. I'm not unfamiliar with concussions either, I've had several since i was five, most of them being related to seizures but, i know they aren't too much fun.
Good luck with the bird.
Lindsay

Re: Hi Everybody!

Lindsay,
That's awesome! I volunteer with a zoo, an animal shelter, and I feed the homeless breakfast. =)

Amber,
It is really exciting to know we have the same interests! I have a horse as well- though he is not trained so we can't ride him. I am so sorry to hear about your riding incident- that must really suck!! I hope you like your bird! What kind will it be?

Tamara <3 =) <3

Re: Hi Everybody!

cool, i've been thinking about volunteering at the animal shelter, and maybe at the movie theater. Speaking of the movie theater i just got back from seeing Strangers on a train. That movie is so intense.

Re: Hi Everybody!

You can volunteer at a movie theater?? Didn't know that! I always thought it was a paid job or nothing- hmm.
I WAS going to go to the movies this weekend, but the guy ended up... well, long story, anyways- I'm glad you enjoyed your movie!
Tamara =) <3 =)

Re: Hi Everybody!

Well we have a historic theater that does plays and old movies ran by mostly volunteers.

Re: Hi Everybody!

Oh, that's cool! We don't have anything like that here. We live... well, the nicest way to put it is THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE lol

Re: Hi Everybody!

I know that feeling, my actual home town is pretty much like that. My mom has to take me to the city to actually go anywhere.

Re: Hi Everybody!

Yea, my family doesn't like the city very much, so everywhere we've lived, which is too many places to count, are rural.

Re: Hi Everybody!

My mom's a bit of the opposite, we'd live somewhere that is at least close enough to a bus stop if we could but, we're stuck where we are here in the country. She's applied for a job out towards California right now.

Re: Hi Everybody!

Yea, most people are opposite from us. I actually like the city and country equally, but that's because I am a traveler. My dream is to visit each and every country for at least a day before I die.

Re: Hi Everybody!

Yea, most people are opposite from us. I actually like the city and country equally, but that's because I am a traveler. My dream is to visit each and every country for at least a day before I die.

Re: Hi Everybody!

Thank you Lindsay and Tamara. I am getting a baby green cheek conure in two more weeks. I am going to Duke this Thursday to see if I will need surgery on my neck. I haven't been able to do much. The doctor we saw in Greenville said that if I trip and hit my head the right way I could become a quadrapalegic. So the end of my summer has been really boring. I also live in the middle of nowhere. The 2 closest cities dot have bus stops and there's nothing to do in town any way. I have to rely on friends to get me places. My mom works on the weekends. The only friend I hang out with a lot was away all summer so I have been chilling at home. It was a great summer until my accident. I hope everyone is doing well.

Re: Hi Everybody!

I wish you luck with your neck. I know it must be a bit nerve rattling. I can say that from experience, they found something on mine then after a MRI they found something a little further up in my brain though my neck was normal. We learned of a lesion on my pituitary area of my brain. which we're just watching.
I wish you luck though

Re: Hi Everybody!

I wish you luck on your neck as well, Amber. Greenville? As in Greenville, KY?? Just curious because I live in TN.

Re: Hi Everybody!

Our states are neighbors! I meant Greenville NC. thank you for the best wishes.

Lindsay I am kinda surprized they didn't want to go ahead and remove the lesion. I had a golf ball sized brain tumor removed when I was 3 and I had a titanium plate with screws put in.

Re: Hi Everybody!

Oh OK!! Well, cool, we're still relatively close then!

Re: Hi Everybody!

I think they were worried if they tried to remove it they'd take the remainder of my sight sense it's right where the optic nerves cross.

Re: Hi Everybody!

I am sorry that you are both dealing with those situations. Keep your head up and keep rocking it like you are currently.

I lived in Greenville, NC while doing my undergraduate at East Carolina University, I went back this past fall for a football game.

Sincerely,
Joe S.
AFB Staff

Re: Hi Everybody!

I am so sorry to hear about your horse riding accident. I have my own horse plus 4 other horses. I'm getting a guide dog very soon. I start training September 20th. Hey Amber, if you want a fun thing that's m fun than horseback riding,try roller coasters, skydiving, or bungee jumping! It is exhilarating!

Re: Hi Everybody!

Thrill Monster- What kind of horses do you have?? I only have 1, but I love him to death.

Re: Hi Everybody!

hey, I am new and saw this on here, I am also horse crazy and took lessons for several years, I miss it soooo much

Re: Hi Everybody!

I have 5 horses. 3 Arabians, a draft-Belgion cross, and a qurter horse cross, which is my horse.