October 7 - Amber’s Support Group

Some of you might remember the post on my blog in August when I wrote a bit about Amber and her new guide dog, Bear. I first met Amber when I spoke with her for a chapter in my book, Out of Sight. Amber was very young when she lost her sight and by the time I spoke with her she already had her first guide dog, Tommy. She was also in training for a spot on the paralympic swim team. Not a bad accomplishment for someone in their early teens – coping with blindness, learning new ways of reading and writing without sight, and learning to move about with the aid of her guide dog.

Amber and I have kept in touch and I am pleased that she has allowed the following pictures to be posted here. As I said, Tommy was Amber’s first guide dog and Bear is her second. Nixy is also an important part of Amber’s life. Nixy was a gift from the Children’s Dream Wish Foundation. Amber had always been fascinated with horses and when Nixy came, Amber was thrilled at the joy and freedom of movement provided by riding this gentle animal.

 

Of course, Amber has included her family in the pictures. Anyone who struggles with vision loss will be able to tell you about the importance of a family or friend’s support group network. I have also met Amber’s family and they are truly supportive, encouraging and loving people.

So, here are the pictures and the descriptions that Amber has written. 

A picture of Bear, Tom, and I from your perspective looking at the photo with Bear on the left, me in the middle, and Tom on the right with my arms around both of them

Picture of Nixy and I with Nixy’s head over my left shoulder

 

Picture of Nixy, Bear, Tom, and I with me on Mixy’s back and Bear on the left of Nixy as you are looking at the photo and Tom on the right of Nixy

Picture of my little sister Aundrea and her horse Wiskey and Nixy and I, both of us on their backs and Wiskey and Drea on the left as you are looking at it and Nixy and I on the right

Picture of Aundrea, Mom, Dad, and I, as well as Drea’s dog Pixie, Bear, and Tom, with Tom, Bear, Pixie in the front row and me, Mom, Dad, Drea in the back row from left to right as you are looking at it