By: Cynthia Lalite
It all began at the age of three, when I was involved in a serious vehicular accident with my parents. Of course, at that age, I didn’t fully understand the gravity of the situation, but as I grew older, the details were shared with me. Before that tragic accident, which left me partially visually impaired, I enjoyed ‘normal’ eyesight like most other people. I became the only visually impaired child in my family of two sisters and one brother. Adapting to life with a visually impaired child and sibling was a significant adjustment for my family, but they coped as best as they could.
My mom, in particular, felt especially sympathetic towards me, and compensated by doing everything for me, unaware that I could learn to function and navigate the world as a visually impaired child. Eventually, she sought guidance and was advised to take me to a doctor who gave her a letter to take to the school for blind children in Santa Cruz, Trinidad, where I was subsequently enrolled. At first, I cried a lot, as did my mom, because it was a boarding school. However, there were other children facing similar challenges who I identified with, and I started making friends, and eventually got settled in. This is where things started improving for me.
I must admit that I learned quite a lot by attending the school for blind children. We were taught practical skills and I learned to make my bed, play the recorder, piano and guitar, and acquired many other skills that equipped me for life.
At age fourteen, tragedy struck again. I love animals, and one day while playing with a nice white fowl, it pecked me in the eye and I lost what little vision remained in my ‘good eye.’ I was left completely blind.
During my time at school I met a lovely lady who introduced me to the Seventh-day Adventist church, which I developed a deep interest in. Although I really loved the Lord I could not be baptized at the time, as I was still a child. However, I joined the church as soon as circumstances allowed.
I left school at seventeen and entered the workforce at the San Fernando Workshop for the Blind, making handicrafts for a living. This was not my occupation of choice, however, the necessity of survival helped me to persevere.
God blessed me with a husband, and we have one adult son who is married and has a family of his own.
Through life’s trials and triumphs, I learned that with God’s help and His grace, I can overcome any challenge. God has been good to me and my family, and I encourage you to maintain a positive outlook on life, because regardless of the challenges you face, giving up is not the answer. Just as God helped me through my challenges, He is more than able to do the same and even more for you.
