Broadcast “See you!”
This Latvian Radio broadcast was created with the aim of promoting understanding of the everyday life of visually impaired and blind people, so that different communities of society can interact more successfully and break stereotypes that disturb and frighten them in their daily interactions.
The talks in the cycle of five recordings are conducted by the couple Ieva Kampāne and Reinis Darkēvics. Ieva is sighted, Reinis is blind. Read more about the program and its hosts here.
Marek was born as a perfectly healthy child, but at the age of eight or nine months he suffered a serious knee injury, which unfortunately was not properly treated for three months.
“Then, when they took me to Riga three months later, they found that the inflammation had spread from the knee, and it had gone further along the bone. It went all over the body and eventually affected the optic nerve. I haven’t really understood how, but the eye nerve was damaged. Then the vision became worse and worse over the years,” said Marek.
As an adult, he underwent two cataract surgeries, which improved his vision at the time, but over time it deteriorated again.
“From 2012, I lost my sight completely, even the light. One day I saw a lamp, the next day I woke up and saw absolutely nothing, not even a lamp, no light, nothing,” recalled Marek.
Marek knew that he might have to lose his sight completely, so while he was still sighted, he tried to get used to the dark. In the evenings or at night, moving around his place of residence, he tried never to turn off the light and to find what he needed without light.
“Honestly, now that I can’t actually see anymore, I’m not afraid of walking and moving around like that. I guess I prepared myself for being blind. I was already ready for all that. I also tried to make coffee when it was dark so as not to wake someone up. Of course, it didn’t happen to me the first time, I mistakenly put the cup on the edge of the table, and then everything fell there. Then I was still sighted, but I tried to pretend that I couldn’t see,” said Marek.
In spite of this preparation, when Marek realized that his sight was beginning to disappear more and more rapidly and that soon, soon he would no longer see at all, it was very painful.
“It was painful, of course, because you’ve seen many years… When everyone left, there was no family at home, I couldn’t hold back, and I had to start crying. I couldn’t keep it all inside. I just did it alone, I didn’t want to show my loved ones that I was weak I was always smiling and happy in their presence. I will not say that I am depressed, but I will say that I am indifferent to what will happen to me.
I was indifferent to myself, to my life, to my health. I didn’t want anything more. I thought it was pointless to fight any further,” revealed Marek.
Marek admitted that at that time he wanted to leave life. In five years, he tried to commit suicide three times.
“I thought that there was no point in living, because what can I achieve in life, being blind? I didn’t succeed, of course, and at one point such thoughts appeared – then maybe God doesn’t want me to leave this world. I realized that I guess I’ve been assigned a mission that I have to fulfill, do,” said Marek.
It was also painful that during this time Marek not only lost his sight and his job, but also his marriage fell apart. After the divorce, Marek went to live with his cousin and aunt, but he felt unhappy there.
“Because they wanted to do everything for me. Spread the bread, make the coffee, wash the dishes. Well, they almost took me to the toilet. But I didn’t need all that, I could do everything. They didn’t understand that. Then I found another place to live and left to live by myself,” said Marek.
In 2016, reluctantly, but encouraged by the people around him, he came to the village of Strazdumuižas of the Blind Society of Latvia. Despite his skepticism, he realized on the first day that it was the right place, that he should stay in Strazdumuiža, because there he can improve himself.
“Then I also realized that it was my place. Over time, I learned about the blind, and I will say this – I became happy, joyful, cheerful. I am no longer sad that I cannot see. Of course, there are thoughts that I would like to see, but they are far away thoughts,” revealed Marek.
During this time, Marek also learned new skills and acquired hobbies. He is best at cooking.
“When I saw, I didn’t like to cook. I had other people cook for me, and I just ate and enjoyed. When I became blind, I admired myself because, to be honest, it all went quite smoothly for me. I wasn’t afraid of burning myself, I could immediately use the gas stove , and to cook with an electric stove. I would say it’s a godsend. I realized that I like to cook, and I’m good at it,” said Marek.
He admitted that even though he has to fight alone without the support of loved ones, he is still a fighter. “I will not rest until I achieve what I want,” said Marek.
Other “See You” conversations
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