Marilyn Lee

Marilyn and I always faced life together.

Marilyn was diagnosed with Wet Macular Degeneration in mid 2013.  Neither of us understood what this terminology meant.  The Consultant explained the condition was chronic, the treatment was limited to injections on the basis of need determined by scans of the eye.  The prognosis of the condition was unknown, but blindness was the end result.

These words were hard to digest, we were initially in a state of daze as we left the surgery.  We went home and tried to fully comprehend this life changing diagnosis.  Our first reaction was fear as many questions were unanswerable.  Second was apprehension and uncertainty about the future.  What we took for granted, the gift of sight, was now in abeyance.

But, Marilyn had a determination and the strength of will to do battle against this condition.  We revisited the Consultant in a more constructive demeanour.  We also contacted The Macular Society.  From these two sources we became more educated and less fearful.  Marilyn also went to The Macular Society seminars.  We discovered the condition is more common than we believed, in fact, we had never heard of it before Marilyn was diagnosed.

The fear and apprehension was dissipated by talking to medics, counsellors and other peers.  Understanding and education greatly helped Marilyn.  This gave her the courage and strength to face the challenge of Wet Macular Degeneration head on, with a smile and determination. Although this condition was set back in her life plans she had the support of not only her family, but also her Consultant and Counsellors.  

Marilyn learned to live with the condition rather than be defined by it.  Over time the anxiety eased and she was a shining ambassador to other “fellow travellers” who never had the advantage or wherewithal to contact counsellors at the Macular Society.