She has climbed the famous Pitons in her homeland of St Lucia; she loves a good game of cricket and is proud of her accomplishments – all done since losing her sight over twenty years ago.
“I wasn’t always blind, I lost my sight at the age of ten, it was to Glaucoma.”
Hyacinth Daniel is now 39 and lives in the village of Debreuil, in Choiseul, located on the southwestern side of the island.
She vividly recalls what she says was the most difficult period in her life.
“You know I remember my struggles, I took so much medication, the doctors tried to help me. I did three operations. Everything was so very painful” she said.
The pain that is sometimes associated with Glaucoma also affected Hyacinth.
“My eyes used to hurt real bad, as though I had stones in them, the memories are painful; the good thing is that I still remember some things from when I could see, like colours. My sight went very very slowly, sometimes I could see a line, then I would see shadows and eventually nothing at all”
While her vision loss did not come as a surprise, Hyacinth now had to learn to readjust to her blindness.
“I eventually got used to it with the help of the Blind Welfare (St Lucia Blind Welfare Association) and of course my friends. I gradually started to feel more comfortable with my situation and now, years later, after losing my sight, I am just fine”
In adjusting to blindness, Hyacinth learnt the wonder of using her hands to make a living.
“I used to work in pottery; I did this for three to four years and then turned to straw craft. Straw craft is what I really really love”
At home, Hyacinth is kept busy, in addition to taking care of her son and helping her mother around the house, she finds time for her straw craft which includes making baskets, place mats and other items. She now dreams of opening her own store.
“I have done so much with my sight, I actually climbed the Pitons while blind, yes I was blind, I’ve been to the forest and there is also blind cricket. I’m a good batter and I’ve played in a blind cricket tournament in Barbados. Now I have other dreams, I would love to open my own craft store because I want to be independent. I also want to get married one day ….”
Having Glaucoma was not the end of the world for Hyacinth who continues to hold onto her faith.
“Put your trust in God and be around people with disabilities and you will get encouragement, all is not lost, you can do a lot with your disability.”