Alma'a Story

 
Alma Anderson thought she just needed new glasses, but she was wrong. She went to her eye doctor to correct a problem in her right eye only to find out she had macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is often a silent disease among the visually impaired. Macular degeneration happens when irregular growth of blood vessels in the eye causes the retina to become detached from the rest of the eye. Since it happens slowly, many people don’t even know it until it’s too late. After laser treatment destroyed the retina in her right eye, Alma didn’t know what to do.

That was almost thirteen years ago. Although Alma is almost totally blind today, she stands out as one of Bosma’s success stories. Over the past few months, Alma has worked extensively with Bosma’s Itinerant Rehabilitation Teachers and the experience is changing her life. Alma may never see again, but Bosma is helping her to live the happiest, healthiest life possible in spite of her disease.

 Alma didn’t even know about Bosma until her eye doctor referred her to our services. Her IRT teacher has helped her to master the many tasks of daily life the sighted take for granted. Whether it’s learning about talking book technology or figuring out how to organize her medicine, Alma knows Bosma has changed her life.

“We’ve been great friends and she’s helped me all the way,” Alma says of her teacher.

Alma is just one of many people who have enjoyed Bosma’s services. For others like Alma, Bosma offers a multitude of services, some geared specifically toward seniors. The best part about it: there is no cost to our clients. Bosma’s mission is to make the world a better place for the blind and visually impaired. Alma is just one person whose success demonstrates our commitment to this mission, but for others like her, Bosma could be just what they need to change their life.