Macular Degeneration is a disease that appears out of nowhere, a sneaky, creepy claw poised to scoop out, bit by bit, our precious central vision.

      The very words Macular Degeneration are of such devastating power, by their implication, that just seeing or hearing them spoken brings unbearable feelings of despair and denial that permeate our whole being. We had always taken our vision for granted until that fateful day when the two words were uttered for the first time.

      Most of us had never heard of this disease, certainly not me, and we felt struck by an unseen force that threatens our very hearts and souls.

      This debilitating degeneration can either hurl us into an unforgiving depression or teach us new ways of seeing and feeling that we have never experienced before.

      I descended into such despair and forced myself to crawl upward toward the light. To achieve this I am working on myself, along with help, and am trying to develop techniques that are beneficial to me and hopefully to others. These I think of as Jolts of Hope.

      Think of these Jolts of Hope as fiery flares, signals, signs, or perhaps simply pebbles which you cast from your pocket to gauge your progress along this treacherous road you must travel. Their echoing sounds should give you courage to continue along the twists and turns during this journey of deliverance.

      After the first stumbling and shaky steps you will find your burden becoming lighter. Where to next, you ask yourself, as you approach the end of the road? Something is still missing! But as you squint and feel yourself along, you can now finally barely make out a sign ahead, a hint of hope, the word acceptance in very, very large letters. Grab it quickly and place it close to your heart, determined to never, never let it go.

      Think of it as your personal flag as you continue forward on the journey of life. Stand tall and be ready to tell the world: