Life felt dark when I began losing my sight. A stranger opened my
eyes to a brighter future
First PersonDeepinder Singh
| for CBC First Person | Posted: June 8, 2025 8:00 AM | Last
Updated: 3 hours ago
Meeting a blind man helped me see I still had opportunity ahead
of me
Image | deep inder
Caption: Deepinder Singh, who lives in Regina, says he was
initially distraught when he learned he was losing his vision.
But he's come to appreciate the sights he's been blessed to see
in his lifetime. (Janani Whitfield)
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This First Person column is written by Deepinder Singh, who
goes by the name Deepi, and who lives in Regina. For more
information about First Person stories, see the FAQ.
I couldn't see what was right around the corner as I sat at the
doctor's office, with the optometrist running through some
vision tests. I'd booked this appointment after a long time
noticing it had become a struggle to see parts of words and
sentences. Google had told me the symptoms were similar to
cataracts, so I didn't feel there was a big worry or hurry.
"Well doctor, is it cataract?" I asked, with the cocky attitude
of a kid who trusts Google more than a scientist or doctor.
"No," he answered, explaining that I was experiencing macular
degeneration. "To put it in simple words, you have holes in
your retina."
He went on to tell me there was no treatment.
My wife and I were stunned. I had a healthy lifestyle and was
on no medication. How could this happen to me?
As she drove me home, I looked out the window and saw the vast
stretches of land that had lost all their colour in the short
time we had spent at the optometrist's. I stared at the endless
sky — so much like my seemingly never-ending life, which would
be restricted now by failing eyesight.
Anita, my wife, broke the silence, saying, "Don't worry, I'll
be your eyes."
She had always been supportive and encouraged me in everything,
through all our moves and work in countries from India to
Muscat, to our decision to come and join our daughter in Canada
in 2018. But despite her support, she could not help me here —
eyes were not something we could share.
Image | deep inder
Caption: Singh and his wife, Anita Lawrence, were living in
India before moving to Regina in 2018 to be with their
daughter. (Submitted by Deepinder Singh)
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The spectre of total blindness haunted me. I did not want to be
dependent on others or be an object of their pity.
Then one evening after a visit with friends, my wife was
driving us home while I admired the golden sunset and the green
fields with a few buildings in the distance. It occurred to me
that if the buildings were closer, they would block my view of
the beautiful evening sky.
In that moment, I had an epiphany: if I could see my vision
loss as something in the distance, I would still be able to see
the beautiful landscape of my life.
I had been blessed with good health to that point. I'd had the
good fortune to have seen the living skies of Saskatchewan, the
unending stretches of sand when travelling by road from Muscat
to Dubai, the quaint town of Winchester in England, the Valley
of Flowers In India where the sweet intoxicating smell of the
flowers made some people faint. Yes, I had been blessed!
Image | deep and family
Caption: Singh, far right, with his family. From left to right:
his son-in-law Tejinderjit Singh, daughters Yasmin Singh and
Rubina Lawrence, as well as wife Anita Lawrence. (Submitted by
Deepinder Singh)
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I began talking to people more and started using the bus
frequently. It was on the bus one cold wintry day when I struck
up a conversation with a young man, who sat down near me with
the help of his dog and his white cane.
"I've seen you a couple of times on this bus before, but there
used to be a lady with you," I said, striking up a
conversation.
"Yes," he replied, "she's my wife. She generally comes with me,
if she's free."
As we continued to talk, he told me he had been born blind and
was very good at using assistive technology, which helped him
to continue working. His confidence was an inspiration for me.
The world might have seen him as having no sight, but this
stranger provided me with hope and a vision for the future.
I am now in touch with some organizations that help the
visually impaired and people with other disabilities to get
jobs or to start their own business. I know there are many
rivers to cross — my advancing age, my continual vision loss,
and the fact that my past work experiences had been in
countries like Dubai and India, rather than in Canada. However,
I am hopeful. Very hopeful. When the time comes, I will find
employment or start my own business.
While I work hard and wait for that to happen, I will enjoy the
heavenly beauty around me throughout the year — the colourful
leaves of fall, the pure white blankets of snow and the icicles
on the trees shining like diamonds in the bright sunlight. I
will enjoy the beauty of summer nights with its sparkling
stars.
I won't let the possibility of the obstacles in the distance
ruin my joy in the beauty around me, or the life I am capable
of living in the here and now.
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