Despite Health Issues, Kim Stanley now feel free

This past Sunday (September 17) Kim Stanley walked and completed her first race ever. It was the Philadelphia Distance Run's 5K (3.1 miles), which began 30 minutes before the Philadelphia Distance Run's bigger race, the 13.1-mile half marathon.

It took her about an hour to complete the course and she loved every minute of it. "I was both nervous and exhilarated,” said the 64-year-old Stanley of Philadelphia.

Until this year, she had no idea that she would ever take part in such an activity. A key reason was that she lives with a number of chronic health conditions: Gastritis, Type 2 Diabetes, chronic kidney disease, several heart conditions, and visual impairment, which includes diplopia.

Diplopia means having double vision and Stanley lived with that visual challenge her entire life.

"I didn't know that I had double vision,“ said Stanley. “I thought everybody saw that way.”

This condition made it difficult for her to read in school. "I just thought I was stupid," said Stanley.

Throughout her childhood and early adult years, she saw ophthalmologists, but none of them knew that she had diplopia. Because of extreme nearsightedness and astigmatism, she had to wear thick glasses. Although the glasses made it a tad easier for her to see, it put her on the receiving end of students’ insults. They used to say she had "4-eyes” and that her glasses were thick as “coke bottles."

"I hated it," said Stanley.

One way she tried to reduce the insults was to dress as nicely as possible every day. At least the other students would have one less thing to tease her about. She is uncertain if that always worked, but she always tried to make herself look good.

At age 42, Stanley finally learned that she had diplopia when she saw a neuro ophthalmologist due to headaches and sudden changes in her vision.

She now knew why she had difficulty reading and she also realized that she was not stupid. While in her late 40s, she graduated from LaSalle University.

Things Only Got Better

This year, a friend told her about Achilles International, a track club that helps people with disabilities run and walk. Currently, there are 28 Achilles chapters in 19 states and 34 Achilles chapters in 17 countries, according to www.achillesinternational.org.

Her first Achilles walk felt so freeing. For once, she did not have to use her white cane while walking. Instead, she was able to rely on her fully sighted guide.

"It was great," said Stanley. Another reason she loves doing this is that she lives near Jewelers Row in Philadelphia, where most of the streets are old and in poor condition, thus making it easier for her to fall and to hurt herself. But Saturday mornings at Achilles practices, she is free. While walking with her guide for 30 minutes to an hour, it is as if her disabilities do not exist.