Blair Young was in his early 30s when his world turned upside down.
A communications manager, he was in his office preparing contracts when he suddenly noticed he was having trouble focusing on the words.
After a visit to his ophthalmologist and a referral to a specialist, he was given a diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa – a disease of the retina that leads to loss of sight over time.
“The specialist told me there was a good chance I’d go blind,” says Blair. “But he also told me that I may lose my job, and that if my children have this same disease, they could be blind by age 20.”
The news was devastating. After leaving the specialist’s office, Blair sat in his car and cried.
“I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard,” he says now. “I have two girls and a boy, and they were all young. So many thoughts were going through my mind. It was terrible.”
After struggling through a deep depression, Blair woke up one day determined not to let his diagnosis control his life. He soon connected with CNIB and began participating in a range of programs as he slowly lost his sight, including peer support groups, employment services, and assistive technology training.
Then, in 2022, CNIB matched him with the greatest support of all: his guide dog, Kelly.
“It’s a match made in heaven”
Blair realized he might benefit from a guide dog when he started finding it more and more difficult to get around without support.
“As I lost my sight, I became hesitant about moving around the world,” he says. “I had a white cane, but it wasn’t doing what I wanted it to do. I didn’t want to run into an obstacle – I wanted to avoid it.”
His hesitation became a thing of the past the moment he met Kelly, a medium-sized black Lab with a calm demeanour.
“I had no idea what I was getting myself into, none whatsoever,” he says. “She has completely changed my life. She’s given me back all my confidence in travel and independence, and I’m not hesitant about going anywhere anymore.”
Blair and Kelly now go everywhere together. From dinner with friends to concerts, sports games to travel around Canada, Blair is able to live his life fully and without fear with Kelly by his side.
“I’m so grateful to CNIB Guide Dogs and the new life it’s given me, including being able to imagine and plan for the future,” says Blair. “I’m not afraid anymore to go anywhere. I would be confident flying to Toronto and walking around by myself!”
Blair says CNIB’s support throughout the process has made a world of difference. From covering the cost of training, food, and vet bills to always being available to answer questions, CNIB has made the process of getting a guide dog fully accessible to Blair and his family.
“I’m not sure how CNIB managed to match me and Kelly so perfectly,” says Blair. “But it’s a match made in heaven. I couldn’t ask for anything better. I really couldn’t.”