what do you think you have achieved inspite of KC?

[eman samir]

i will be very happy when i hear what you have achieved inspite of KC along your life.this will give me a push forward and make me feel that every thing is possible.looking forward to hearing from you.

[Anne B]

A husband, three children, nice home.
And to be honest thats all i ever wanted.
If i achieve any thing else now it will be a bonus.

[GarethB]

My achievements;

Meeting my gorgeous wife while still recoving from my first graft.

Repainting a car without the aid of vision to a very high standard.

Passing my A levels while partially sighted

Starting a motoracing career while still legally blind in one eye

Getting a degree

More recently;

Teaching my daughter to cook despite being partially sighted.

Passing the Advanced Morotists test while legally blind in one eye.

Getting promoted at work despite the KC problems I have had on and off.

Redecorating part of the house.

I could go on for ages.

[Christine Wallis]

I also did my A Levels partially sighted - got a good degree (I had my lenses by then) - drive daily - held down jobs in the media and the NHS - currently work reading an auto-cue - qualified two of my dogs for Crufts.

Nothing is impossible....(except going down escalators)

Chris xx

[Andrew MacLean]

While I have lived with Keratoconus I have:

Achieved Degree level qualifications from two UK Universities and from a University Level institution in Austria.

Met and married my wife, been blessed by the birth of two beautiful children (now beautiful adults).

Continued to be involved actively in sports ranging from running up and down mountains, to men's hockey to skydiving.

Served in a number of ministries, and served as chairman of one of the world's largest non-statutory social work organizations.

Worked in a large University.

And much much more. I have not found Keratoconus a handicap. Even when I was no longer able to wear contact lenses and had become legally blind, I was able to continue working and developing my work.

I like to live in the assumption that Jay's tag line is really true!

All the best

Andrew

[piper]

Well, I continue to own and operate my violin shop, building and repairing fine violins. For the early years of KC I did lots of hand-push engraving on knives and handguns and lots of small things, plus all the usual things above.....work, raise a family, etc. What KC has done is slow me down.....my work quality is still good, but just takes more time than it used to.....look twice and cut once and all that.

If nothing else, I hope that I have made other people aware of KC, and convinced some of them to donate their corneas after death.

Piper

[Andrew MacLean]

For the early years of KC I did lots of hand-push engraving on knives and handguns and lots of small things ...
If nothing else, I hope that I have made other people aware of KC, and convinced some of them to donate their corneas after death.

Piper, there is a big difference between your culture in parts of the United States and ours in most of Europe. In the UK you'd get five years for just owning a handgun!

Your witness to a community of the abilities of someone with a visual handicap to offer a high quality service of intricate work (violing making and repair, as well as hand carving) has clearly made an impact on your community.

Well done

Andrew

[Val G]

I picked up on Piper's phrase 'look twice, cut once'. Even though I have a totally different job I seem to make less mistakes than many others even though I am the one with the vision issues. It has even been said that nothing gets past me, I do feel I have an eye for detail, beacause my KC have meant that I do actually 'look' at things, not just glance. Hope this makes sense.
I too feel that I am living a full life, married 25yrs, teenage kids, demanding job, studying for an MPhil etc. I couldn't have imagined more for myself.
Hoping you all reach your goals. X

[kerrie phillips]

Well even though my drving test has been on hold for a long time i have managed to get through my nursing and will graduate this November. I hope to do a couple of years post reg then it is USA or Oz here i come.
Having said that i do have Pals in america so that may be the better option.
Any way if you put your mind to it work hard enough and really want it you can do anything. Keep your chin up friends and family close and you can get through anything.

[BusyLizzy]

Well, all these replies are inspiring.

I've been fortunate to have managed to set up and keep running my own business while navigating the rocky KC road and related allergies.

I also got a degree.

Still reading music and keeping up violin, and last year I also began teaching myself the cello.

Remember that there are only a limited number of things which can be seen by the eyes. The rest must be understood by the heart.