Shirley Shores From North Fairfax Interviewed By Free Press

Shirley (Palmer) Shores, was one of the visually impaired people interviewed that was given a tour through Vermont Teddy Bear yesterday by The Burlington Free Press:

"Waiting for lunch, Errickson sat next to her friend, Shirley Shores. Doctors diagnosed Shores, a grandmother from North Fairfax, with macular degeneration two years ago. The disease is the leading cause of blindness for people at least 55 years old in the United States, according to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation. Shores, though legally blind, said her doctors told her she should retain some vision.

Shores said she enjoys the camaraderie and support within the group. Outside the group, she struggles to ask for help.

“You don’t want to be a burden to anyone; that’s my biggest thing,” she said.

Shores needs help crossing streets, and, like Errickson, depends on family and friends to drive her around town

“If people are going out for a ride, and they called and said, ‘How would you like to go for a ride?’ that would be great,” Errickson said.

Shores had to retire after nearly 40 years of selling antiques as her eyesight worsened, but found her disease has a silver lining.

“I appreciate things more now than when I was in such a hurry, trying to make the almighty dollar,” she said."

Read the whole story by clicking on the following link:

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081016/NEWS02/81016018