A Glimpse into a Blind Man’s Life

Written By Lance Mathena

My career is over. The Department of Defense does not want blind database administrators: my employer was the first to give me the big wet kiss goodbye. I hadn’t been out of intensive care for more than a few days when I got the call telling me to “Heal fast, so you can go to work and clean out your desk.”

My friends are disappearing in droves. I make them uncomfortable. They can’t picture being blind themselves, and so have zero concept of what it might be like for me. I am a constant reminder of mortality, and no one wants to face a reminder of the possibility of catastrophic injury every time they see an old friend.