KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | Thru My Eyes

Thru My Eyes

By: Norma Yuriar

At the age of 30, Millie Marshall was in her prime, independent with a busy social life when she lost her vision in a motorcycle accident.

No one expected her to live, but nearly 30-years later she's still here.

Millie has overcome many obstacles and most of the time Millie says she forgets that she can't see. "People don't realize that when you are blind you can still do things," said Marshall.

Everyday she navigates the streets of Oakhurst with her white lab Nampa by her side.

The 58-year old also cooks her own meals and uses an electric slicer to cut fresh vegetables and meats.

Her chores don't stop there. Millie believes, "you can do anything if you put your mind to, I took my vacuum apart and fixed it and it worked afterwards."

Around the house, Millie has memorized where most things are and what her clothes look like, "See this blouse here, it's a different material so I know it's dark blue," said Millie.

For other materials she uses a hand held scanner to match her outfits.

The scanner is very descriptive so that Millie doesn't leave the house wearing something she doesn't like.

Although she is completely blind, Millie says she uses her mind to envision life as she remembers.

In July of 1980 Millie went blind after she and her boyfriend collided head on with another motorcycle near Lake Tahoe.

Millie says she remembers looking up at the trees, moments before the accident. "It was so beautiful. That was the last thing I saw," said Millie.

She woke up at the accident scene, "it was dark and I started hearing sirens and people.  Then I heard someone say she's the sole survivor," remembers Millie.

She underwent 15-hours of reconstructive surgery.

But, there was nothing doctors could do to repair her eyesight, "I thought I can't be blind," said Millie, "even after both eyes were removed I kept believing I was going to see again, a typical thing that happens to people that are totally in denial."

She never got her vision back and eventually doctors surgically removed both of Millie's eyes. Millie said she "felt like a freak."

That's when she turned to D. Danz & Sons, the only eye maker in Fresno. It took Tony Alcorta 50 hours to create a new set of prosthetic blue eyes for Millie.

Alcorta says prosthetic eyes make the visually impaired feel normal again, "this is where people think prosthetic eyes are cosmetic but they are really not."

After regaining her confidence Millie went back to school and earned a Master's Degree in Family Therapy. She now runs the Valley Center for the Blind (VCB), where she teaches others independent life skills.

"I was offered support when I lost my sight, in fact I did not want to live, now I have so much to live for," said Alray Smith, a member of the center.

But the VCB is struggling financially because many people don't know the center exists.

Millie is hoping to raise enough money to create a TV commercial and bring more awareness of the services available.

The center is only school for the visually impaired from Stockton to Bakersfield.

For more information on the Valley Center for the Blind, or to make a donation call (559) 222-4447 or log on to www.valleycenterfortheblind.org .