Served. Blinded. Supported?
They served with courage. Now they need your support.
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Two brothers. One enduring sense of duty.
The military was in John and Tom's blood – for generations, their family has answered the call to serve. But in their retirement, their lives, like those of so many veterans across the country, have been blighted by sight loss.
Blind veterans like John and Tom felt a sense of duty to us and to our country. Now they need us to be there for them.
They served with pride.
John, an Army nurse, served not once but twice. At the outbreak of the first Gulf War, he didn’t wait to be recalled - he stepped up and volunteered.
Older brother Tom is a proud veteran of the Royal Corps of Transport.
John was stationed at a makeshift hospital in Riyadh airport. His commitment and skill saved many lives. One day, he thanked a wounded member of the SAS for their service, declaring him a hero. The soldier shook his head and said the real heroes were the medical staff who had left their families to work behind the scenes, unarmed in a raging war.
One of John's most treasured possessions is a plaque gifted to him by the SAS member to thank him for all he'd done. It means more to John than any of his medals: recognition from the people he had been trained to protect.
Blindness affected every part of their lives.
John lost his sight in a single day following retinal occlusions and had to give up the nursing career he loved straightaway. For Tom, a stroke left him with hemianopia, severely reducing his field of vision.
Nothing would ever be quite the same for either of them again.
The trauma of sight loss can be overwhelming. Veterans like John and Tom find themselves unable to work, drive, travel independently or enjoy the hobbies that once brought them joy. No veteran should face that alone.
"I’d given up on myself. I didn’t want to be around. It was incredibly difficult, psychologically."
But now, thanks to you, they are supported.
Finding Blind Veterans UK was the turning point for both John and Tom.
Their need for support in every part of their life was urgent. John says the training he had in IT, cooking and other practical tasks gave him back his independence.
The brothers met other blind veterans, making friends with people who understood them. Realising other veterans had adapted successfully to their sight was inspiring – it gave them hope again. John and Tom knew there could be life after sight loss.
Please will you support blind veterans?
John and Tom’s lives have been rebuilt thanks to the support they’ve had. With your help, blind veterans across the country will feel the same.
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