Update

[scottr2009]

Hey guys, it's not often I post on here (due to my busy and stressful life) but I thought I would give you guys an update on how keratoconus has affected my life. Well, it is pretty much two years to the day that I was first diagnosed with it. I was just about to do my first year law exams and it really did not come at the best time for me (not that there's ever a good time to receive such news of course).

For the first couple of months, I was worried and scared for my future. I thought that having this disease would hinder me. However, generally in the last couple of months, I have started to accept that I have this condition and to move on with my life. I should at this point say that I have been told I only have quite mild keratoconus and I don't mean what I said to sound disrespectful to those that may be having a harder time accepting and controlling this condition.

Having said that, it is hard at times. The second year of my degree course has been much harder and alot more stressful. My eyesight has gotten worse but seems to be controllable at the moment. It's been hard but you just have to keep going. My family (especially my father) have been very supportive throughout the whole thing. My Dad has always been my inspiration as he is one of my most important role models in my life. He told me today that he is really proud of me, it made me realise that I am a completely different person now. I tend to wake up in the morning and realise how lucky I am when I look out the window. I am now more confident and open about things. I guess you could say I am a "new man". This may sound odd but in a way, this condition has made me a better person, a better man.

I am a great believer in destiny, I believe that everything happens for a reason. I admit when I was first diagnosed, I gave up and fell into a very negative place until I started to view it differently and then things seem just that little bit brighter. Slowly but surely I changed until the person I am now. I am really happy with who I am now and I am incredibly proud of myself and what I have achieved. The road before me may be harder and full of things to overcome but I know now that I will make it and fulfill my dreams of becoming a solicitor, it has made me that little bit more determined to make it.

At this point I would like to give a big thank you to the Keratoconus Group for providing this forum, without this forum, I would feel lost. To all of you out there, keep going, I admire each and everyone of you. Someone once taught me the lesson that you can't fight destiny, what will be, will be, so there is no good worrying or stressing over things, That's what I have learnt over the last two years. That is what I believe made me the person I am now.

[Andrew MacLean]

Scottr2009

Thank you for your post. Your journey isn't over, but it is good for us all to be reminded that we do not travel alone.

Andrew