March 20th 2021 was a day that will stay in my memory for the rest of my life for sure. The fruition of completing my first book ‘I can see clearly now’ and time for the big reveal with an amazing book launch.
Always being one to do things in style and to the best of my ability, I planned it at the Harry Perkins Medical Centre at Fiona Stanley Hospital.
I thought this to be a fitting venue as it was my Heart Transplant done here that opened my life in ways I could never have expected.
A blind mistake of venues
After a near catastrophic mistake with a misunderstanding to which hospital the Harry Perkins Centre was at, a mistake on my part that comes with not being able to see where you are, we managed with some swift and quick thinking plans to be set in motion with only two days to spare.
Talk about the eleventh hour, now I know what it feels like as panic rises rapidly and don’t particularly want to experience it again! Luckily as the saying goes ‘I love it when a plan comes together, and it came together smoothly and quite effortlessly I must say.
Blind and overwhelmed
The sound of bustling people filling the auditorium with the heightening volume of the guest’s excited chatter filled the room. Music playing as I walked in with Rhian by my side was quite overwhelming as applause began but no sight of the guests before me.
Chris Thomas, CEO of Transplant Australia flew over from Sydney to launch my book, along with Ron Hooten, CEO of Vision Australia via a zoom link from Melbourne.
The next hour went by in a flash with three songs from my book chapter titles being sung by a live performer throughout the event. “Isn’t she lovely” by Stevie Wonder, “At last” Eta James and of course “I can see clearly now” by Johnny Nash were the selected tunes to create a beautiful vibe.
Understanding the meaning of a second chance of life
A Q and A with Claudette Pope, editor of Footprints Publishing met a lot of belly laughter and enjoyment to the answers I gave of anecdotes of things that have occurred since transplant and becoming legally blind.
Ron Hooten then said some inspiring words of my achievements over the past few years as a Vision Australia client.
A genuine feeling of love was experienced by everyone in the auditorium as other transplant recipients, friends and family all understood what the immense impact of a second chance of life meant.
How many extra years of gifted life were in the room?
Chris Thomas went around the room asking how many years post-transplant, recipients were.
Then accumulated the years together. An extra one hundred and two years of life had been gifted in the room.
It is a humbling exercise to be part of, knowing that none of these people would be here, if not for the donor and their family donating the gift of life supported by Donate Life.
Challenges of a heart transplant
The Words from Dr Amit Shar, senior cardiology consultant and Clare Fazackerley, clinical nurse practitioner, had people inspired and in tears at the same time, as the magnitude of challenges met along my journey was revealed.
Very few people ever knew about the depth or seriousness of my heart situation. The general feedback from people was that one minute they were crying, then the next filled with laughter. What a perfect blend of emotions.
Finding your life passion
Up there on stage, I was in my element. Engaging with the audience, entertaining them with anecdotes of humorous encounters I have had along the way with no sight.
I knew that was always my joy and passion, inspiring people and having a laugh with them at the same time. I was beaming inside and loved it!
Can a blind person sign books?
Time to sign some books.
Sitting down at the table the buzz and crowd hovering around me was incredibly hard to take in, especially as I have only a fraction of sight and can’t see anything in front or to the left of me at all.
You may be wondering how I sign books. Once I put my pen on the page by feeling, I simply write.
The only fall back is that I have to have quiet and no interruption during this process. As I sound out the letters in my head as I write them, everything is great.
If I am interrupted however, I lose where I am up to and can’t read what I have already written, nor can I work out where to place my pen again. I can though quite successfully write messages in books for people.
Fame as a blind heart transplant survivor
Feeling like a famous movie star as people not only waited in line to have a signature but simply to say hello and some also wanted photos taken with me.
Now I understand how fame can be intoxicating and give you a high that takes days to come down from! I was on cloud nine for at least three days after and had a buzz in me that couldn’t be dulled.
The feeling I experienced that day of knowing this was my true passion and living in my heart space of boundless energy is a memory I often use to recall joy and love when meditating.
I felt vibrant and alive and knew then I was definitely on my souls true path. What an amazing gift I was given from not only my new heart but losing my sight as well.
