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Hostess Risé
Board Administrator
Username: Rise
Post Number: 18408
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 05, 2017 - 04:45 pm: | 
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My Unfinished Story
By, Mrs. Sylvia Sugar Lopez
I think I have a very special story to share with those who find themselves
Alone in a world of darkness and feel like there is no hope or light at the
End of that long, narrow tunnel. I'm here to let you know that there is life
After becoming blind. With the proper training, faith, perseverance, and
Inner strength; you too can accomplish what's in your heart and mind. It just
Takes some work, patience, determination, a lot of discipline and a positive
Attitude.
My name is Sylvia Sugar Lopez. My life drastically changed in 1984, at age 12,
When diagnosed with Diabetes; then again in 1995, when I married my husband
Daniel, had my sight taken from me, became pregnant and lost my baby; and again, two
Years later, when I got new Kidneys and a Pancreas. I've gone, and am still
Going through, many changes and challenges.
I'm constantly having my inner strength and faith put to the test.
I believe my story will show how I manage and maintain what some could say “a difficult life”.
Through my life I hope my story can help you get through the difficult process of getting used to blindness and still live actively.
I come from a loving and supportive Christian home. My parents are pastors
And I have 3 siblings. Being a P.K. (pastor's kid) was tough, but I am
Grateful that my parents grounded me in Christian belief’s when I was a little
Girl. My family has been my support system during the many times I've come
Close to death, but it's my inner faith and support from loved ones that has
Helped me pull out of these rough times.
I was diagnosed with juvenile Diabetes shortly after my 12th birthday and
I've struggled with it for all of my life. I was considered a "Brittle"
Diabetic, taking up to 10 injections of insulin daily just to keep my blood
Sugar at a reasonable level. I was first diagnosed at US Medical Center in
L.A. and continued at Loma Linda, which I considered my second home for the
Next few years.
Due to Medical negligence soon my sight would be taken from me-Though I was every doctor's "perfect diabetic," following my diet to a tee
And doing what I was told to do, I could never keep my blood-sugar at normal
Levels, and it was more convenient for the hospital to use the cheaper type
Of insulin. There were countless times I went through Key Tone Acidosis,
Where there is so much sugar in the system that your body just can't handle
It elapses into coma. Technically, I should have died at the age of 15.
The years went by, and, still struggling with diabetes, I never gave up; I
Fought it all the way! I had home schooling through almost all of my high
School years, but I was determined to walk with my class to graduation. The
Doctors told me that it was safer to just accept my diploma and stay home or in the hospital. I receive my diploma with my class in 1989.
In August of that year, I enrolled at Vanguard University and majored in
Psychology, but could not finish due to diabetes. Yes, once again, I had
Fallen out of control and there was nothing that could have been done to get
Back into the swing of things. I tried to treat myself at my dorm but
Couldn’t do it; I went back into Key Tone Acidosis. So I went back to the
Hospital, my home away from home, fell behind and had to drop out. With God’s help and with my determination God did grant me to accomplish my dream and goals in college.
In 1995 my life changed again with a double-blessing sent from above: my
Husband Daniel and our step-daughter Stephanie. I felt even more blessed
Because both my father and uncle married us.
In 1997, I started to notice changes in my vision. I continued to work and
Drive until I couldn't see the lines on the freeway; most of the time I just
Played "follow the leader" and prayed that the car in front of me knew where
It was going. I couldn't believe what was happening, didn't know what was
Going on. I had been in good control for some time now! Little did I know
What I was going to face.
One day, as I was sitting in front of the computer at work, I couldn't see
The numbers. I wore my reading glasses, tried a magnifying glass, and still
My nose was right up to the books and computer-screen. This scared me so I
Called Daniel, and we went to see a specialist. I was told that a little
Laser work might clear it up. Well, after a couple of laser procedures, my
Sight was taken from me. I didn't want to be a burden to anyone; I didn't
Want to have a husband out of obligation.
As my sight was being taken from me, I was scared and felt alone. I didn't know what to expect from myself anymore, and I thought that there wasn't anyone who knew what it felt like to have their sight taken from them. Even though I never
Went through a deep depression, this didn't mean I wasn't hurting and missed
all the things that I once did when I had my sight. I realized I had to get
Out of my slump and get into motion. I realized that I could still do many
Things I used to do before, but now I had to learn how to live a different
Life in a different way.
In 1998, I had another eye surgery done and I dealt with being nauseated for weeks.
When I was asked if I could be pregnant, I just giggled, and said "no." I told the
Nurse that I couldn't get pregnant; the nurse just kissed my hand and told
Me that there's a plan for me. The nausea continued so I called my eye
Doctor and she gave me some pills to help, but they didn't. She sent me to
The E R, and it was there, while waiting in the lobby to go home, that I was
Told I was indeed expecting. I couldn't believe the news. Here I was a blind
Woman, who is learning to take care of herself all over again and now, was
Going to have to take care of a baby!
When I told my eye doctor about my gift, she laughed because here we thought
That the reason why I couldn't stop vomiting was because I was still trying
To rid myself of the anesthesia from the surgery.
In my 6th month of pregnancy, I developed Chronic Reno failure, due to
Complications to diabetes, and soon would need to be on dialysis. I, of
Course, didn't agree; I was feeling fine, physically. I refused the
Treatment.
A month later, having been told that I need to abort my baby, I refused because I don’t believe in this, for God had granted me a special gift. Still I underwent through an emergency Cesarean.
God was gracious enough to allowed Baby Daniel Edward Lopez Jr. to be born alive and healthy inspite of the many doubts of doctor’s. I believe our son was born to give me a second opportunity of life and to prove to the doctor’s that God is still in control and has the last word.
Baby Daniel stayed with us for a short while then went off to be with the Lord. My greatest accomplishment and my best memory was that our son was able to be held and he did recognize his daddy here on earth as he squeezed Daniel’s fingers before he left us.
I will cherish that forever.
Soon after our son was born I was told that I would need dialysis to stay alive. I refused this treatment for 3 years because I knew God had something planned for me.
During this time as I was getting use to going back to living life blind, I had received some training at a local facility where blind and visually impaired people are trained to live independently. I learned some mobility, braille and computer skills; doing most of my work at home by myself. I was determined to make it work; I
Wanted to regain my independence, again. I pushed myself as far as I could go in order to be able to learn all I needed to learn to start over.
By 2001, my kidney disease had progressed to the point where I had to be on
Dialysis. Still I stubbornly refused, hoping for a donor. My Uncle Tony
Called one Sunday night and asked what could he do to help? We told him that
I needed a donor, quickly! The next morning we were in Riverside Community
Hospital, getting blood tests to see if we were a good match; and, in
December 2001, we were on our way for a kidney transplant.
My next step was to receive a pancreas which happened 2 years later on
Mother's Day. There were many trials and scary moments, like the possibility
Of having liver cancer. Now I am free of diabetes, kidney disease and God
Still has a plan for me!
Through my trials as a blind person, I've learned that, for every bad thing,
There is its good; and that attitude defines how we perceive this life and
Who we are.
I am, and have been, active in the blind community.
I'm past-President of the Inland Empire Chapter for the California Council of
The Blind, and very proud of it; I've sat on the Advisory Committee of
Disability Issues, I am a member of California Disabled Rights, and have sat
On the board of directors for several Community Access Center for the ADA (American’s Disability Act). I currently sit on the Membership Committee for the CCB (California Council of the Blind) and both Daniel and I are current members of the CCB Fresno Chapter. I enjoy assisting and mentoring those who are discouraged as we all journey in this walk of life. I often say that we all have a disability, whether it is physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually. The most important thing is to always keep your faith and stay focused on what God has planned for you.
If you feel there is no life after becoming blind, I want you to know that
If I can do it, so can you. You will reach your goal as long as you do your
Best, strive with determination and remember that you'll need help along
The way; you can't do it all alone. Find a good support group such as your
Family, as mine is; or a center in town. Most importantly, don't let anyone
Underestimate you and your abilities; you know what your limits are. Always
Trust in God and believe in yourself to make it through rough times. Picture
The many good things you can bring to others by your attitude and
Perseverance, and be an example to others who may be in a more serious
Situation. Look forward to another day and know that tomorrow can only get
Better. It's never easy, what is? Learn to deal with what life has placed
In front of you, it all depends on what you do with it. Everything will fall
Into place sooner or later. Don't give up!
In Memory of Daniel Edward Lopez Jr.
Please feel free to E-mail me at:
Sugarsyl71@sbcglobal.net
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Hostess Risé
Board Administrator
Username: Rise
Post Number: 18409
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 05, 2017 - 04:48 pm: |
|
Finding Inner Strength Through Challenges
by Mrs. Sylvia Sugar Lopez
[Sugar's email address is sugarsyl71@sbcglobal.net.]
A while back I wrote an article for the BC called "My Unfinished Story. That article was about how through the challenges of being blind, I found that with determination and self-perseverance, there was still hope for a good life. This time I want to share how being blind has helped me show others that even though difficult times keep coming, light is still there, and how a positive attitude can make things a little easier.
I am happy and blessed to say that it has been 15 years since I had my Kidney and Pancreas transplants, and they are doing well, considering. My pancreas is chronically rejecting and has at last slowed down to the point where I am back on insulin after 13 years of being diabetic-free. I feel blessed to have had those 13 years needle free because it is not very common for transplants to survive that long. It has been difficult and disappointin for this to have happen, but knowing that one day this would and could occur was part of my journey. Transplants are just a temporary fix or as I like to say "gifts," and in the meantime I have kept striving to do my best in all I do. My determination, positive outlook on life and my unwaivering faith does not compromise or stop me from being who I am.
During the past few years I have been blessed to speak to high school classes about my blindness, give resources and help guide students who need direction to better themselves and outlook in their lives. I was amazed to feel their eagerness and hear how excited they were to know how they could keep moving forward when life throws them curve balls. I still keep in touch via email.
They had a chance to use my long white cane, instructed to walk blindfolded across a room to sharpen their pencils. There was some fumbling around, and I have to admit it brought a small smile to my face because I knew the students were realizing that it's not easy to get around in an unfamiliar location. I received comments like "it's not as easy as you make it seem."
I have also been blessed and honored to put together a Dining in the Dark" event at my local church. The theme was "Seeing with a New Perspective," and we all sat at round tables and everyone had blindfolds throughout the event. They received a brailed note card with a few words of encouragement, and with the help from my local talking book library, a flyer with the alphabet in braille. They could try to figure out what the words were using their cheat sheet, as I called them. There were also slates and styluses at each table for them to learn how to write their names in braille.
My challenge was to put this all together and cook spaghetti and meatballs, sauce, salad and dessert. The fact that some people didn't realize that I was capable to not only organize and host this event, but cook for 50 people, really took them by surprise. A few were fumbling around as they attempted pouring their drinks and buttering their rolls. I heard comments like "How does she do this without making a mess of herself?" It's not easy doing this with our eyes closed!"
I found myself coaching them on finding their places around tables' and how to not get sauce all over themselves. There were several white canes around the room, so they all could take turns trying to get around, still with their blindfolds on.
I noticed how many participants were trying to identify one another just by listening to each other's voices. I said:
"this is why there are times when I know some of you well because you come to me and talk, and the more you and I talk the more familiar I am with your voice. So conversation is important."
It was a fun experience for everyone all around. Most importantly it gave people an opportunity TO know me as an individual, not just the blind girl. Everyone had a chance to walk in my shoes for a few hours; and this will be an experience they won't forget, and I only hope that they realize that being blind is not a game, but it is real, it is who I am. As a blind wife, Mother and individual, I have learned that what I do, how I act, and react to other's determines how people see me, and I look forward to keep striving to do my best and educate people who are not familiar with blindness and all that can be accomplish with the right tools.
The CCB has been such a wonderful way of Support and a great resource for me personally. I have gained so much strength being a part of this organization: working along with such inspirational individuals in the Membership Committee and now as Vice-Chair of this committee is a great joy and honor.
I enjoy assisting our CCB-L list as one of the monitors as well.
I have been totally blind for 20 years now, and I can say that I have had, and still do, the best of both worlds. Blindness has brought me comfort, some peace and a better sense of self-worth. I give thanks to God for my husband Daniel, my family for their unconditional love and support. I am grateful for every opportunity I get to put myself out there and share about how we as blind people can live a productive life. I feel that we all have challenges in our lives, whether they are physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. They are challenges we all deal with in our daily walk.
I would like to leave you with this small thought: You are strong as long as you stay true to yourself, stay open to ask for help when needed, and be willing to return the favor. This is how you will keep maturing personally and within the community.
Thank you, God bles you.
Sylvia Sugar Lopez
There is speaking grace. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
~Blessings, Sugar
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