This is another potpourri of topics.
First of all, the photo. The orientation and mobility guy had these sent to me. They are sort of tire chains for your shoes. He said they were good for keeping you shiny side up when walking on ice and snow.
Once more: have I tried them? No. Do I recommend them? No. Do I know a thing about them beyond what I just said? No. The O&M guy had them sent to me and said they were valuable.
End of that topic.
As you gathered, I have been more or less discouraged recently. However, I have decided not to give up just yet. People are still talking to me even though I think I was an idiot. That is a plus. There are photos in the contest even though I really don’t think I will do great things this year. (Because of circumstances with my eyes and my husband’s back, the photos I entered were taken locally and I don’t find them all that inspiring.)
I am also feeling a little uneasy about the clinical trial. Having my contact leave was distressing. I need to come up with more of a plan to keep myself in the running.
So basically, after taking a short time out to feel sorry for myself (we are all allowed as long as it doesn’t drag out too long), I have gotten back in the game.
I plan on doing what I can to help people around me. I am going to go and see how my photos did – after all, there are many people who have never won a single ribbon. If they can stand it, I can stand it. Fear of failure can be paralyzing so we need to avoid it – and I am already picking out Iceland photos to enter the next two years!
The clinical trials are a bit more of a dilemma. I plan on getting a third referral from Regillo, but my proverbial eggs are still all in the Wills Eye stem cell study basket. There should be someplace to jump if I am thwarted in getting into that study.
I wish. I went back to looking at the clinical trial lists and I came up empty. The closest thing that looked interesting was in Florida. Probably not practical.
I did find something that may be positive, though. In September the National Institutes of Health changed the guidelines to expand the registration information in clinicaltrials.gov. The changes are supposed to make it easier for people to find clinical trials in which they might participate. The new regulations require much more information be shared on the site. That means if any other studies actually materialize, there will be more data available to make an informed decision. Good.
That’s pretty much it. I have chains to keep me from falling this winter and I am picking myself up from a ‘tumble’ or two in other areas.
Setbacks happen. I have been told the secret is to get up one more time than the times you have fallen.
Oh, and we need to keep checking clinicaltrials.gov. If you live in Florida, the one with bone marrow stem cells looked interesting. Consider it.
In other words, I have decided to stay in the game.