Ltr to Vets Administration

DOGGETT

Posted By: Nancy Doggett Tate (email)
Date: 6/7/2008 at 14:41:08

(Partial letter)

Ames Iowa
Aug 17,1977

Veterans Administration
210 Walnut Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Dear Sirs,

In answer to your letter of Aug 11,1977, regarding my husband’s loss of vision, I will try and tell you his difficulties in trying to cope with this disability.

His vision has been poor when in a darkened room, such as a restaurant, or in bright sunlight, but he was able to carry on with his two hobbies, woodworking in the winter and gathering and selling night crawlers in the summer, and playing some scrabble.

Since 3 or 4 months ago, he has been unable to do any of these and except for some perception of light he says he can see nothing.

Altho I am very conscious of the importance of him being as independent as possible, it really isn’t possible for him to do many things for himself. Frequently he becomes very confused as to where he is in the house and he tries to push through the TV or the stove in the kitchen. He smokes and I have to be alert so he will not burn a hole in his clothes, the table or rug or chair or he will not start disastrous fire. He realizes this and frequently calls me to find his cigarette, when he doesn’t know where it is.

A home teacher from the Commission for the Blind has here twice to help him learn to walk, but he still is confused enough about directions that I walk with him. Also his general health is not good, so the walking is unsteady. He needs help to walk in the yard as he seems completely lost there.

He dresses himself, with my help in finding his clothes. He bathes himself with some help. I shave him as he doesn’t seem to be able to do a half-way job. I feel he will improve in this.

He does need a good deal of help at meals, altho he feeds himself once it is on his plate.

I don’t know if there is anything else I should say except I spend a good deal of time reading the morning and evening papers to him, as this has been an important part of his life. Otherwise, he does have talking books from the Commission for the Blind and listens to ball games the radio.