James’s
Sightline Story
I heard about Sightline’s telephone befriending
service through the RNIB. They thought I may benefit form a weekly befriending call,
so I picked up the phone to find out exactly what was involved.
My visual impairment is Glaucoma with extensive field loss. I don’t consider myself socially isolated, I get out and about with my wife and our dogs. I am also employed within the public sector but felt that’s where I may benefit from a bit of support with someone who is also visually impaired and in employment like me.
I called Sightline and they matched me with someone who is a bit younger than me and working, and we hit it off from the first call.
Liam is a great help to me, not least as he is great with technology. He’s been able to recommend products that might be helpful to me in my workplace and also some tech around the house. I would never know about some of these things had I not reached out to Sightline so I’m very glad I did.
Liam and I have been chatting weekly for almost 12
months now and I really feel like he’s a good friend and great listener.
Recently I have undergone surgery on my right eye. The operation was an hour and a half and I was awake through it all. I can remember the weeks running up to the operation and my feelings of anxiety. Liam was always very good at reassuring me about the process. The Retinal Surgeons were also amazing at putting me at ease when I arrived for my operation. They arranged for my favourite rock band album to be played through the operation which suited everyone. The trainee surgeon who was watching on loves a bit of SlipKnot, so that was quite funny really.
The post-op recovery time is between 5 and 6 weeks. When I go back for my review they can then determine if the process might be possible for my other eye. I’ve had a sick note to enable me to have the time off work so my calls with Liam have been especially welcomed during this time. It gives my wife the opportunity to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet whilst I’m on my call!
I would definitely recommend the Sightline befriending service to others. It’s been an invaluable source of support to me from that very first call.
It’s such a great service and I still can’t believe it’s free and available for as long as you need it.
Names have been changed to protect identities.
If you or someone you know could benefit from a weekly call from one of our trained telephone befrienders, please call 0800 587 2252 or email us at info@sightline.org.uk to find out more.
To find out more, please contact us:
(*0800 numbers are free to call from BT landlines and most mobile networks)