A Few Things We Take For Granted
By CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
Nashville, Tennessee
February 1, 2023 4:05pm CST
The last couple of days I have spent lots of time on the phone helping my cousin. She is blind and rarely asks for help. Her daughter recently moved closer to her Dad, so she doesn't visit as often.
I bought her a magnifier last year to help read her mail to her, using Face Time. This has been a tremendous help to her. Today she told me about a box full of mail to go through eventually. She does not like asking for help. I always remind her I do not mind at all. So, we got all of the mail taken care of.
While browsing and researching I found a free Seeing AI (Artificial Intelligence) app for her. I helped install it on her iPhone and she loves it. It will read anything you put the screen on. It will also read barcodes. How about that for intelligence. I had never considered that she has no idea the items in her pantry. She depends on the feel of the carton, bag or can to let her know what it is. Not any more.
One more thing is her medicine. Can you imagine being blind and having to ask for help in every aspect of your life. I cannot. Anyway, this new app will read her medicine label to her. It has another neat option we both laughed about. You can snap a photo of a person, and it will give you the approximate age, hair color and mood of the person. She tried it on me and it guessed ten years younger than my age. I told her I absolutely Iove the app. ha!
I am just blown away at the little things many of us take for granted in life. I will continue helping her of course and when I see something new I will share with her. She is always so very grateful. I totally understand how much she values her independence, I am the same way.
Her little Yorkie named Rambo was there helping us as well. I hope to visit her in person one day soon.
43 people like this
43 responses
@kaylachan (71918)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Feb 23
I know all about being disabled and valuing my independence. It's everything to me. I am glad you found something she could use.
6 people like this
@kaylachan (71918)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Feb 23
@CarolDM I am sure she is. And, there's a lot of things you can do.
2 people like this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
1 Feb 23
@kaylachan It makes me feel needed I guess is the word.
2 people like this
@sallypup (61691)
• Centralia, Washington
1 Feb 23
My husband has been blind since he was a kid. He pretty much tells what his medications are by sniffing them. He has always done his own thing, from going to the university on out but this last illness has really laid him low. He hates that I make him breakfast etc. He is used to making pizza from the crust upwards but for now he can't. One of the hardest parts of his life was folks thinking he couldn't even open a door by himself so this illness has been emotionally hard for him. He was able to help me get cardboard bent and in a shape that it would fit into the recycling toter today so that was something.
5 people like this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
1 Feb 23
Amazing the little things you learn to do when you have no other choice. I hope he feels better real soon. I keep saying that but I truly do. Just amazing. My cousin cleans her floors on her hands and knees and will not allow anyone to help her. I have so much respect for her for so many reasons.
3 people like this
@allknowing (137914)
• India
2 Feb 23
AI is creating wonders. Good you found something to help your cousin's independence.
4 people like this
@moffittjc (121739)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb 23
Thank God technology has advanced as far as it has. That opens up a whole new world for her. I had an intern a few years ago who was blind, and he had a special program on his laptop that allowed home to talk to it and it would do what he said (such as send an email, type a letter, search’s website, etc). I was super impressed, he never asked for any special considerations and always completed all his projects and assigned work.
Oh, and the thing I loved about him too…he had a black lab seeing eye dog whose name was Darth Gator!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121739)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Feb 23
@CarolDM Wow, a dog named Satan. Very interesting choice of a name.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
5 Feb 23
@moffittjc Her ex-husband named him. And he protected her, but was nice to all of us kids around him. He knew we were not a threat.
1 person likes this
@much2say (56141)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Feb 23
That's amazing! Who knew such an app existed - glad you found it for her! My friend's friend is now legally blind due to macular degeneration - I should see if she is aware of such an app. It's wonderful how you're helping your cousin. Rambo is too cute!!
2 people like this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
1 Feb 23
It truly is. I knew there was help out there for her. Just had to keep digging to find it. And this app was free. I downloaded it for when she has questions, I can easily help her. The app is called Seeing AI. Rambo is her shadow and he only eats human food, too funny. I value the time I spend with her.
2 people like this
@much2say (56141)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Feb 23
@CarolDM In that sense, advanced technology is awesome, especially when it can help people. But people still need people, I'm so glad you're there for your cousin. Thank you, I'll let my friend know about Seeing AI. Awww . . . glad Rambo is there for her too - what a lucky dog to get human food!!
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50561)
• United States
2 Feb 23
Rambo is adorable. She is blessed to have you.
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50561)
• United States
8 Feb 23
@CarolDM I know that she appreciates you.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108301)
• Marion, Ohio
2 Feb 23
That sounds like a great app to have. Which one was it. I see several. It could help many of us with that really tiny print on things.
2 people like this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
2 Feb 23
@wolfgirl569 She is sharing with her other friends as well. Makes me happy to see her happy.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14760)
• San Jose, California
1 Feb 23
That app will be very beneficial toward her independence!
2 people like this
@spiderdust (14760)
• San Jose, California
2 Feb 23
@CarolDM I hadn't thought about not knowing what is in one's own pantry or cabinets... the app you found is a game changer.
2 people like this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
2 Feb 23
@spiderdust So many things. She cleans her floors on her hands and knees. To make sure she gets all the dust she always tells me. She has no smell either, so a fire is always a concern for her. No candles obviously.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80847)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Feb 23
Rambo is just the cutest, I am glad you could help her and that she now can do so much for herself, Many blessings to her,
2 people like this
@Shivram59 (36563)
• India
2 Feb 23
@CarolDM I know what it means to be blind.How did she lost her eyesight?? I highly appreciate you for helping.I think her daughter should remain with her to help her mother.
1 person likes this
@Shivram59 (36563)
• India
3 Feb 23
@CarolDM Now I understand.That means your cousin must be 70 plis.At this age she is so active despite being blind.That's really commendable.
.
.1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
3 Feb 23
@Shivram59 Yes she is. And very active. I try to help as much as possible.
1 person likes this
@dilleo (1004)
• Canada
5 Feb 23
That is so nice of you to help out your cousin like that!
You're absolutely right though, we should always be thankful for what we have and try not to take things for granted.
I noticed you said you hope to visit her in person. Does she live far from you?
I noticed you said you hope to visit her in person. Does she live far from you?1 person likes this
@dilleo (1004)
• Canada
6 Feb 23
@CarolDM Oh, I'm sorry to hear that 
That makes sense though, and you are very kind-hearted. Family is important, so it is good that you keep in touch with her.
Ah, ok, yeah 4 hours is quite the trek. Well, I hope you get to visit with her, one of these days
That makes sense though, and you are very kind-hearted. Family is important, so it is good that you keep in touch with her.
Ah, ok, yeah 4 hours is quite the trek. Well, I hope you get to visit with her, one of these days 1 person likes this
