Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Stefanie Johnson

Sometimes it’s the little things that humble you, that make you realize what life is really all about. Things may seem hopeless and impossible sometimes, desperate and terrible - but if you look around with an open mind and an open heart, you will see the truth that lies beneath.

My dog, Sophie, is a 7-year-old beagle basset hound mix.  She’s sweet, stubborn, and silly.  She loves to eat tangerines and sweet potatoes and jellybeans. But none of these things are what makes her so unique. What makes her unique is the fact that she is completely blind.  Her eyes were removed around 2 years ago, and yet she has a normal life and seems completely happy.

For my part, I can’t imagine what it would be like to be blind, to never see the sky, or look at a beautiful painting, or play a visual game.  I believe that many people have never actively thought about what it would be like to be blind, and many never fail to cringe a little the first time they see Sophie and hear her story.

When Sophie was first diagnosed with glaucoma, we thought we had time.  We thought medication would control the situation for a while, possibly even a few years.  The vet assured us that there were steps we could take to delay the progression of the disease.

However, it seems that basset hounds in particular have an eye shape that makes them prone to an extremely aggressive form of glaucoma.  It swiftly came to the point where the medication stopped working completely, and Sophie was extremely subdued.  It was clear that she was in pain, as the pressure was no doubt giving her a constant headache.  We drove her to specialists in the city, tried new medicines, and explored every option we could.  It was all to no avail.

One day, just after dinner, she looked up at me, her eyes wide and dark and haunting, unfocused, and I knew she was completely blind.  It happened from one moment to another.  I waved my hand in front of her face, and she didn’t blink.

At first, she didn’t move very much. She was hesitant and uncomfortable, and seemed to spend much of her time asleep.

The choices my family and I faced were heartbreaking, as far as we were concerned.  Everyone loved Sophie.  She was, and is, a beloved member of our family.  If we kept her on medication for the rest of her life, she would be able to keep her eyes, but the pressure and pain would be constant, and she would never regain her sight.  Some said we should have her put down, as leaving her to live her life blind was (in their view) cruel.  

Or, we could choose to have her eyes removed, which would be the best course according to our vet, because then she would no longer be in pain or have to be constantly medicated.  In the end, that was the path we chose.  For us, and for her, it was the correct one.

As soon as Sophie healed and was off of her medications, she got a new lease on life.  She had the spirit and zest to go on where other dogs might simply stay whimpering in a corner.  Glaucoma was a hand that had been dealt to her, but she didn’t give up the game.

She didn’t give up, and we didn’t give up on her.

Sophie has a wonderful life.  She is happy.  She is loved.  She has a big, fenced in yard to roam around in, her pick of household couches, cats to chase around, good food to eat, and fun walks down the street.  She might bump into things occasionally, but she still finds her way around just fine, and at times it’s easy to forget her blindness.

Every time I look at her, I feel blessed.  She has enriched our lives with her silliness, her sweetness, and her spirit and bravery.

Every time she nuzzles my hand, looking to have her ears stroked, it reminds me that I need to live each day as she does. Wholly.  Joyfully.  Life may offer us hard and painful choices, but it’s important to always look forward with hope instead of despair.  

“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.  For me they are the role model for being alive.”
-Gilda Radner, “It’s Always Something,” 1989

“I’ve seen a look in dogs’ eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts.”
-John Steinbeck

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