The Story of a Blind Girl

Valerie was a beautiful child and belonging to a rich upper-class family, had everything she could have ever asked for growing up. However, a biking accident changed all that when it left her blind. For many years, Valerie grew to hate and distrust the world that she lived. She yearned for the beauty of sight and questioned the purpose of her life being blind. She no longer had any reason to live...until she met John.

As a social worker, John was always the caring, gentle and understanding soul that Valerie needed. He spent his free time humouring her, taking care of her and being her shoulder to cry on. It wasn't long before John and Valerie fell in love.

A few years passed and John proposed to Valerie. With his heart, he spoke of how he wanted to spend every passing moment making her happy. Valerie cried when she told John that she was not good enough to marry him as she was blind. This broke John's heart and it was then, that John promised to make her the happiest woman by finding her a suitable transplant.

 

Months had passed and John finally fulfilled his promise. Valerie could see again and she was amazed at how the world looked with her new found eyes. It was only then that she realized John was actually blind too and did not resemble anything she had imagined. It wasn't long before Valerie left John, unable to accept the person that she now sees before her.

 

A year later, Valerie received a wedding ring with a note, "I am sorry to have disappointed you and will no longer be around to take care of you. This is the ring I bought for you when I proposed back then. Please treasure it always like the way you treasure my eyes. I Love You."

 

John had passed away that same week. Friends and family confirmed that it was due to a complication he picked up after the eye transplant surgery. John never gave up on life or his love for Valerie.          

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This is a true story and a very sad one which moved me to tears during my time in the US. I share this story today because a friend I know had very recently been treated unfairly at her workplace. I had hope that by listening to this story, she can be comforted in knowing that there are others much worse who never gave up. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

For those that can relate to John, I want you to know that until the day he died, John never believed he made a wrong decision. He gave it freely and would have done it all again if he had to. We need to learn to give without ever expecting anything in return. If we gave and expected something in return, it would not be called "giving". Like John, if you do give, give it with your heart. Give it because you know someone else needs it more than you.

Now Valerie never knew that John had given her his eyes and as such, did not understand how much she meant to him. The moment she regained her sight, she became unaware of the wonderful things she had and was only interested in her newfound gift. In my opinion, Valerie may have gained her eyesight but had now truly become blind.

Though many would not like to admit, we have been a Valerie at some point or another. It may not have been a pair of eyes, but it is human nature to take for granted what others had given you and walk away without realizing the depth of their sacrifice. As children, we do that to our parents ever too often and some of us may only regret this when they are no longer around. Even in friendship, some of us may have been guilty of forsaking long time friends for newer, perhaps more influential ones. Learn the Valerie lesson - Do not be blinded by what you WANT and fail to appreciate WHAT YOU HAVE.

Valerie is in her 40s now. She is a social worker and will never consider marrying again. Until today, she never fails to remind everyone of the painful lessons that she had learnt in life. Let's treasure what we have and not just what we want...