Donna was born in Michigan, the fourth of eleven children. At age one and a half, Donna contracted Spinal Meningitis, which left her with only a residual amount of hearing, complete blindness in one eye and very low vision in the other. She grew up going to special schools including the Helen Keller Institute. That is where she learned to read lips by the “Tadoma” method – placing her thumb underneath the speaker’s lower lip and fingers gently on their jaw and neck. Her life has been full of struggles with isolating silence, blurry darkness, confusion, painful migraine headaches, frustration and loneliness. In spite of all that, God has used her life to speak boldly, shine brightly and bring much clarity into my thinking and joy into the lives of many she has touched - including my own.
When I met Donna twenty years ago, she was a resident at an institution for the blind. I had taken several sign language classes recently and wanted to challenge my skills by socializing at the local Deaf Club with the deaf community. There was a Bingo game going on where the letters were flashed overhead instead of shouted out. I happened to sit down next to Donna. She was at a huge disadvantage at this game since she could not see the flashing board, and was delighted to discover I knew enough sign language to fingerspell the letters into her hand. I offered to drive her home afterward and on the way invited her to church. She came the very next day, and soon began studying the bible and experiencing a changed life.
“It is a better life” says Donna, “There is so much more happiness and help for my struggles.”
Not long after she was baptized, one of the administrators at the home contacted me to find out what had come over Donna. He had never seen her so peaceful, patient and considerate of others. Apparently she had developed a reputation of having the opposite of those qualities. Her frustration with her disability sometimes manifested itself in anger and fits of rage. Yet the change in Donna was so remarkable that he wanted to hear about the God who brought it about.
“I’m not the same old person,” laughs Donna, “It makes me feel good that I am changing in a lot of ways.”
Since that time, the institution changed from a residential facility to the “Center and Opportunities for the Blind.” With the help of technological aids toward independent living, Donna moved into a rented apartment and later into her own condominium.
“I like my Braille TDD”, says Donna. “I put the phone receiver down and type my phone message to a relay operator, and the operator speaks my message to the hearing person. Then the operator types the message from my caller and it comes across my machine in braille. It is encouraging to be able to talk to my friends every day.”
Donna has a refreshing joy and appreciation for God’s blessings. She is always delighted to share with others. She has regular dinner guests in her home from church, work and neighborhood. Her home is frequently the place for bible studies and fellowship gatherings.
“I want to be more serving so that I can be more like Jesus,” says Donna.
When I am tempted to be inward, selfish and ungrateful in my walk as a Christian I think of Donna. Her example is a challenge and inspiration to me. Though she has her ups and downs, as all of us do, she responds to the call back to obedience with child-like faithfulness. She sees with spiritual eyes and listens with her heart.