This month our client spotlight is on Donald Lewis
Meet Donald Lewis, a 60-year-old heart transplant patient, and client of the Lighthouse, who spent his entire childhood living with a major secret that no one knew, not his family, friends or teachers. Donald graduated from high school, married, and obtained a full-time job as a nurse assistant/hospital orderly and still no one knew – Donald was illiterate.
Donald grew up in Savanah, Georgia raised by a single father with six siblings and had a rare genetic disorder - Marfan syndrome. Sometimes known as Marfans, is a disorder of the connective tissue that affects the skeleton, lungs, eyes, heart and blood vessels. People with the condition may also have vision problems; many are near-sighted, and about 50 percent suffer from dislocation of the ocular lens. In Donald’s case his symptoms started with his eyes, due to his inability to see much and his overwhelming shyness, he was afraid to tell his teachers or father that he could not see. He lived in fear throughout his school years afraid he would be discovered, and due to his inability to see – he never learned to read. His father was so busy working two jobs and raising six children that he never took the time to ask about his homework, to attend parent-teacher conferences or even read books with him.
“Parents play an important role in a child’s development, in my case my father assumed the school was teaching me and helping me develop intellectually, looking back I don’t blame him as it took everything he had to just keep a roof over our heads,” said Lewis. “However, perhaps the greatest gift he gave me was the knowledge and motivation to not make the same mistake as he did.”
Yes, Donald had a son, yes, he too was born with Marfans and yes he too, due to his vision loss could not read. But this is where the story differs from his. One day Donald asked his son, who was about 6 years old, to read a book to him. His son described what was happening in the photos, he was not reading the text. Without condescension, he gently asked, “Can you read this?” His son admitted he could not. Donald, learning from his father’s mistake, went to the school and told the teacher; his teacher had no idea he could not see, nor read. He immediately went to a bookstore, bought a phonics book and together, they learned to read. Just a few months ago Donald’s son graduated with his PhD in Higher Education from the University of Miami.
But the story does not end here, in 2014 Donald was diagnosed legally blind due to glaucoma that progressed and in 2015 had a heart transplant both due to Marfans. Needless to say, he was laid off from job as he could not work in the hospital environment with the visual impairment and heart condition. He gradually recovered from the transplant surgery, but not his loss of vision - so enter the Lighthouse.
He came to Lighthouse a few years ago, unemployed, depressed and in serious need of training to try to find employment. But again, due to his lack of reading and writing skills, never learned how to type or use a keyboard so he could use a computer.
“Mark Gracey changed my life, he helped me learn to use a computer and keyboarding skills, he taught me to be patient and how to not get frustrated, as I did often at the beginning. When I came to Lighthouse, I had no idea of my potential, but the education and skills I learned at the Lighthouse – it woke up my potential and now I know I can do anything. I don’t wish this syndrome on anyone, but it has taught me to never give-up and I hope this story can inspire and help others,” Donald concluded.
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