Sonya Woodrow knew from a young age that her eyesight was not great.
But as she got older, her eyesight started to deteriorate more quickly and her falls started to result in more serious injuries.
"I had no peripheral vision and the colours weren’t so clear.
"It got to the point where I couldn’t go out by myself because I’d just bump into things or fall over.
"It was quite terrifying."
Eventually, in her late 30s, doctors told her she had cone-rod dystrophy — a genetic condition that causes light-sensitive cells in the retina to break down, which leads to loss of colour, central and peripheral vision, and, ultimately, blindness.
"At the time, I still had one child living at home, so it was terrifying for her as well because here I was, falling over constantly and bumping into things and getting quite hurt.
"I didn’t realise what condition I had, so it came as quite a shock to me when the doctors told me that I’d eventually go blind, because I had always assumed they could give me better lenses in my glasses."
"I went through a grieving process because ... it’s quite traumatic thinking you’re going to lose your sight."
Now, at age 51, she is legally blind and all she can see is if the light is on or off.
"If I was to meet you, I would have no idea what you look like.
"I could see your outline, but that’s about all."
About two and a-half years ago, she realised she needed some "serious help", so she could regain some independence and not have to rely so much on other people to help her do everyday things.
She was referred to Blind and Low Vision New Zealand, where staff gave her mobility training and taught her how to use a cane, but a wrist injury from one of her falls made using it quite painful.
So she applied for a guide dog.
"Once I was accepted, I had to wait two and a-half years before I was matched to a dog.
"You have to be matched with the right dog to suit your lifestyle."
It was a long wait, but it was well worth it in the end, because she got Vesna — a Labrador retriever.
"As soon as I got her, it was life changing — it changed my whole world.
"She’s given me freedom.
"Before I had her, I was stuck at home waiting for someone to come to help me get from A to B."
Now she was able to go on long walks with Vesna, play blind lawn bowls at the Forbury Bowling Club, catch buses and even compete in the Dunedin 10km marathon last year.
Miss Woodrow said it also changed her teenage daughter’s world.
"It meant she could live her life again without having to always be there for me.
"But also, my daughter has inherited the same eye condition, and she too will eventually become blind.
"So it’s important for her to see me with my independence now, so that when her time comes, she knows that it won’t be as daunting as it was for me.
"It shows her that there’s still life after the darkness falls, so to speak."
While Miss Woodrow is still learning to adapt to life as a legally blind person, she now feels ready to start searching for a job that suits her abilities.
She paid tribute to the dog trainers and the people who donated money for the training.
"I would never have had these opportunities without people donating money to guide dogs, because guide dogs are not funded by the government.
"I take my hat off to the trainers.
"I can’t imagine life without Vesna now. I’d be lost without her."
Blind Low Vision New Zealand is holding its annual Guide Dog Puppy Appeal this month, to raise the vital funds to provide highly trained guide dogs for people who are blind, deafblind or have low vision.
