Seeing Red!

My late nephew, Jeff, was blind the last few years of his life. He died from a brain tumor that was with him most of his life, and finally got ahead of the treatment. He started to lose his sight about ten years ago. Two brain surgeries and years of chemo couldn't ultimetely contain it. In their attempt to get the tumor they took his optic nerves. Jeff was a brave young man who always kept his sense of humor. He worked for the Universityo of Arizona Athletic Department in group sales, a job loved. He worked until he could no longer work.

On a trip to Tucson, Jeff took me to SAAVI, the social service for the blind. It was there I was introduced to his counselor. She was a pretty young woman, who was blind from birth. She lived on her own with her guide dog and eventually got married. Certainly an example of a good person living a full life without sight.

Jeff, lived most of his life with sight. He knew what color was. He knew the red of a rose and the colors of a rainbow. He could always see and remember color in the rear view of his mind's eye. His counselor could not. How do you describe color to a person who has never seen or experienced color? How do you describe a red fire truck, or one of those stupid yellow ones to a person who has never seen red or yellow? They can touch the shape, but there is no shape or touch to color. How do you describe the colors of the rainbow? Color surrounds us every day of our lives. It lives on in those who became blind after seeing. Don't miss the color of your life. We are blessed.

Have a nice day!

Sam