Tim’s story of enjoying the gift of reading for 30 years and then losing it! Vision therapy at age 40 allowed him to read his first book ever and then 30 years later, a stroke took that gift away.
I want to share my deeply personal journey with you—a story about the day my world of reading changed forever. For over 30 years, reading was a cherished part of who I was, but one day, I noticed something was seriously wrong. I was looking at a printed recipe in large type when I saw the words begin to appear wavy and jumbled, and in that moment, I realized that my once-familiar world of text was slipping away.
Determined to understand what was happening, I sought help from various specialists. After countless tests and consultations, a retinologist finally diagnosed me with a stroke that had affected the part of my brain responsible for reading. That confirmation hit me hard—it felt like I was losing a piece of myself.
The loss of my ability to read was devastating. Books that had once brought me joy now served as painful reminders of what I had lost, and every page became a source of overwhelming frustration and heartbreak. Yet, even in the midst of this pain, I knew I had to find a way to hold on to my love for literature.
I tried vision therapy again, even when experts doubted it could help. That didn’t do the magic this time but it was important for me to try.
Now, I buy a physical book and the audio version at the same time so I can try to follow along in the book. In this, I find renewed pleasure in reading again.
My experience is a bittersweet blend of grief and gratitude. I mourn the loss of a cherished gift even as I feel thankful for the years I had it and for the unwavering support I now receive. I’ve learned that deep sorrow can coexist with a sincere appreciation for what once was, and that both feelings can drive us toward resilience and hope.
I invite you to join this conversation by sharing your own experiences of loss, change, or unexpected challenges. Your story matters to me, and together, we can build a community of support and healing—one where every voice is heard and every struggle is understood.
Have you ever experienced a season of grief where gratitude helped you navigate the pain? What moments or small joys helped you find light in the darkness?
Leave a Reply