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Name
Suzanne Pritchett
Born
June 6, 1953
Home
Avon Park, Florida
Diagnosis
Stargardt disease
Eyes Affected
Both
Eye Color
Brown
Age at Diagnosis
29
Acuity
Right 20/30. Left 20/40 - worse at times.
Treatment
Vitamins, exercise, and sunglasses
Prognosis or Current State of
Vision
I have difficulty reading (I used to read 2-3 books per week) and can only get thru the morning news paper now. My eyes are better in the a.m. I have significant depth perception problems and stumble easily.
Family History
No other family member has Stargardts; my three remaining brothers as well as myself are being DNA tested at the University of Iowa (Dr. Ed Stone). My mother and father are both deceased ( I was born to my mother when she was 41 and my father was 46) I have one deceased brother.
Impact on My Life
I have always been very active in the fitness world (jogging, nortic trac elliptical, bicycling, tennis, water and snow skiing) So it has definitely slowed me down and caused me to be much more fearful of injury.
Positive Effects
I want to travel and do as much as I can while I am able to see. It makes you appreciate the little things much more and not ever take sight for granted!
Adaptations
I make myself slow down and try to accomodate my lack of depth perception. When driving (in daylight) I look several times before I pull out (to compensate for my blind spots). I drive much more slowly.
Employment
I am semi-retired from a career as a Dietitian, having owned my own small practice/company. I still consult to a facility for the profoundly mentally disabled. I keep my new grandson 1-2 days a week.
More About Me
I have been married since 1970 to my pharmacist husband and have 2 grown children and 2 grandsons. I live in sunny Florida on a lake and we have 5 dogs and 1 horse (on 40 acres). My son lives 10 minutes away and my daughter 3 hours away. Family is very, very important.
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