I am 42 years old. I lost my right eye at 5 years old. My mom had me and my siblings at her friends house and my brother found a BB gun. I remember it like it was yesterday. He pointed it at me and shot it. I was rushed to the hospital where surgeries and a painstaking long healing process began.

I was fitted with eyes that were not custom made and I was in so much pain. School was equally as painful. Kids can be so unkind and that just pushed my self esteem down even farther. It took many many years for me to adjust and get over the tragedy of losing my eye. I generally don’t think a lot about it but there are those times where the image catches me off guard and I don’t feel as beautiful as I know I am.

I have to quickly readjust my attitude. I am not talking about just outer beauty but inner also because the mind can sure help put you down. While I have forgiven my brother I must admit that the never addressing it or apologizing for it has put salt in the wound. It is just a subject that has never been discussed in my family like it never happened. But the pain of it happening is real to me. I went through a terrible depression and rebellious stage. I have grown up and felt like I was living this one-eyed world alone. That is a horrible lonely feeling. I have just recently met a few people that have artificial eyes in passing at my Ocularist’s office and read many of the stories on here. That is encouraging and I don’t let it stop me.

I now have a sense of peace, a great job, and will be graduating college this year. I am a nana to a beautiful mini me and teach others the power of hope and recovery through working with adults with severe mental illness. So I was able to push through all the struggles and sadness to finally accept myself. Through doing that I have grown and enjoyed life without the injury defining me.

I would be remiss to not add along with my granddaughter I am married to my best friend who has helped me heal. We have been best friends since I was 18 years old.  He accepts me and makes me feel beautiful. Finding that acceptance along with being saved was exactly what I needed. We have two sons that makes our family full.

I am thankful that I have grown and overcome all the trauma I have endured.

Thank you for allowing us to share our stories. That is a great healing tool. God bless.

I would love to hear from others and get involved in a support group.

Thanks Angie