Welcome to another edition of Interviews to Empower, where we introduce you to someone who can inspire you to never give up. Today, we are talking with an extraordinary lady whose motto is “Don’t be afraid to try new things. Step out of your comfort zone and dare to dream.”
Q: What is your name, and can you tell us about yourself?
A: My name is Keela Harper, and I was born in Lewisburg, WV. I was born with glaucoma and cataracts, but I could read small print until I was about twelve. During that summer, I ran into the trailer where we lived. My mom said, “I think we have a problem.” :)
Q: Can you tell us about your blindness?
A: Yes. I lost the vision in my right eye when I was about twelve. The doctors did surgery to remove a cataract, but it was so deep that the optic nerve was damaged. The pressure was very high in my left eye, and I had only light perception, so during my senior year of high school, I had to have it removed. The right eye was removed several years later. I now wear prostheses.
Q: Did you go to a school for the blind or public school?
A: I went to public school for Head Start, Kindergarten and first grade. I attended the North Carolina School for the Blind until third grade. After that, I went to the West Virginia School for the Blind, and graduated from there in 1994.
Q: Did you begin learning braille at an early age?
A: They began teaching me braille when I was about seven. However, it wasn’t until I was going to WVSB that one of my teachers began working with me more aggressively.
Q: What about cane travel? Did you learn O&M skills at WVSB?
A: Yes. The teacher I had was strict, but I am so thankful that he kept after me. I remember this one time when I had to find the Bank of Romney. “You can get directions any way you want,” my instructor said, “but I will not help you.”
Q: What did you do?
A: I got directions and found the bank. I remember walking through the door and asking, “Is this the Bank of Romney?” :) What I didn’t know was, my instructor was right behind me the entire time.
Q: Do you still use a cane?
A: Not usually. In 1995 I went to The Seeing Eye in Morristown, NJ to get my first guide dog. His name was Cosmo, and he was a black lab. We worked together for eight years. In 2010 I went back to The Seeing Eye for my second dog. He is a black lab, as well, and his name is Lynx. I have always loved animals, and while walking with a dog, my pace is faster, I don’t have to concentrate on each and every landmark, and I feel more graceful when I enter a room. Having a dog who can see has also helped when I have to be in the hospital with my children. My dogs remember where we are supposed to go, and I feel I have more independence with one by my side.
Q: Were you involved in extra curricular activities during your school years?
A: Yes. I enjoyed swimming, goal ball, going to Space Camp and Girl Scouts. I was also involved in Close Up and got to go see the White House. In Girl Scouts I reached the level of cadette and was an LIT (Leader in Training), receiving a silver metal. As far as Space Camp, I got to go for three years. My favorite part was the aviation challenge. We got to go bungee jumping. Today, it excites me that my son can enjoy going to Space Camp, as well. I believe the experiences I had while attending WVSB rounded me out as a person. I don’t think I would have been able to do so much in a public school environment.
Q: Several times now you have mentioned your children. Can we talk about them?
A: Yes. In September, 1997 my husband and I were married. In 2000 my son was born. Our daughter came along in 2005. Both of them have a form of Muscular Dystrophy inherited from their father. One of the difficulties we ran into when trying to come up with a diagnosis, was my husband didn’t know this was the reason for his disabilities. My son is sight impaired and hearing impaired. He uses a power wheelchair and has some difficulties with motor skills. My daughter uses short braces to help her walk. Both children attend public school. I believe that all the experiences I had at WVSB, including the extra curricular activities, gave me the confidence to be a parent to children with disabilities.
Q: On June 23, 2016, heavy rains came to your neck of the woods. Tell us about that.
A: The town of Rainell, WV was flooded. Water was up past my knees inside my home. It took 21 hours to be rescued. We were awake all night, and it was all I could do to encourage myself and my children. My husband was ill and in a nursing home at the time. When we were finally rescued, we left our home in a boat. We stayed with friends for two and a half months. At present, we are living in one of the mobile homes provided by FEMA. Later this year, we will be moving into our new home. To say we were scared is an understatement. But, we survived, and even our dogs made it out, safe.
Q: You have certainly had a rough year.
A: Yes. My husband had been diagnosed with COPD several years ago. We lost him in October. I wouldn’t have made it through without my church family. Through it all, the flood and my husband’s death, I relied on my church family more than ever. They have literally been a God send. I don’t know what my children and I would have done without them.
Q: What would you say to other parents with children who have disabilities?
A: Don’t be scared, because they can be successful in life at whatever they want to do. There are so many ways they can be successful, because of technology.
Thank you, Keela for allowing us to interview you.
We hope you have enjoyed this edition of Interviews to Empower. Our goal is to post these interviews on the fourth Thursday of every month. If you or someone you know needs encouragement, come back and join us any time.
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Happy Thursday and be blessed.
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