My Sight loss
I was born 16 weeks premature with no sight at all due to Retinopathy of Prematurity. This disorder causes abnormal blood vessels to grow in the retina and, as in my case, can cause blindness. Thankfully, nowadays it is not too common. Sight loss will always be a part of who I am but it hasn’t stopped me from achieving my goals. I went to university, which included studying abroad, and graduated with a degree in broadcasting – specifically radio production. Most importantly I have been able to have a family and be like everyone else.
Life before Rosie
Rosie is my third guide dog. I was partnered with my first guide dog, Nessie, in 2009 and she retired in 2017. I then partnered with Lilly B in 2018 but sadly, Lilly B was withdrawn after 6 months as guiding was not quite right for her. We were all devastated to lose Lilly B, as she became part of our family. As a busy mum with sight loss, the pandemic stole my independence. I was using a white cane to get around and I relied on my routes and routines being familiar. But the pandemic caused all sorts of changes, such as one-way arrows in shops, new barriers, and social distancing. This meant that small tasks like popping to the shop to buy food for my family became very difficult.
Welcoming Rosie to the family
Rosie has settled in so well to her new home; it feels like she’s been here forever. I love her personality – she is so smart! She has affectionately become known as ‘Rosemary’ when she’s being cheeky, as well as ‘Rosebush’ and ‘Nosy Rosie’. My husband also has sight loss and has a wonderful guide dog called Kenyon who gets on so well with Rosie. They both sleep downstairs and I often come down in the morning to find them snuggled up together in the same bed! Partnership training with Rosie went well. It was a calm and comfortable process and I enjoyed building a mutual feeling of trust between myself and Rosie. We’re a team, and I love that.
Life with Rosie
Life as a mum of 3 is always busy; no two days are the same and it’s amazing to see how Rosie has taken this all in her stride. She’s fitted in perfectly with our family life and being partnered with her has allowed me to focus on being the best mum I can be, without having to worry about getting around.
Rosie absolutely loves getting on trains and buses, which is great as I spend a lot of time in Central London. She especially enjoys doing the school run with me every morning – with 500 children plus parents, there’s a lot of excitement! She comes to extra-curricular activities too. My son plays football and my daughter does gymnastics, and there is always a children’s birthday party to attend.
My favourite times are spent relaxing at home with Rosie. I like to lie on the floor with her, either with a good book or some nice music. I host my own podcast and when I’m editing, Rosie will often come and settle herself on my feet. It’s lovely how affectionate she is and how easily she has become a part of our family.
I would like to say a huge thank you for supporting Rosie’s journey and for making our partnership possible. I hope you’ve enjoyed watching her grow into the life-changing guide dog that she is today.
