He is part of a growing group with a determination to live life fully, with a new appreciation for what was almost lost. He is one of the 50 percent of cancer patients who live through the terrifying diagnosis, the fear, the uncertainty, the sickening treatments and the real risk of death. I do not look at each day as a day closer to death, but another day to be appreciated and enjoyed.” “I do not consider myself dying of cancer,” he says, softly tracing an invisible pattern on the kitchen table with his index finger, “but living despite it. Lloyd Miller never used to have time for hobbies. He finds it a lot easier to tell his wife and friends that he loves them.Īnd although life has brought him persistent heart problems and a cancer that came back four times, Miller considers himself lucky. He isn’t bothered by the little things anymore. The bird feeder is one of the little ways Miller is a different man now. He has a firm handshake, a hearty belly laugh and a warmth that twinkles from beneath his spectacles. “I’ll have to win the lottery.”Īside from the pinkish patch of scar tissue on his head and his lack of hair, you would never know this man tangled with a rare, life-threatening cancer. Now, I’m feeding the birds at $10 a week,” Miller says with a chuckle. Army to his career as a salesman and Racine’s city development director, Miller was a busy man. From his early days as a cavalry instructor in the U.S. The project won awards from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, the American Cancer Society and the American College of Radiology.įor much of his life, the 71-year-old Miller never had time for little hobbies like bird watching. This story was part of an award-winning 12-page special section published in The Journal Times on Dec. They are a living reminder of just how much Miller’s life has changed in the past four years. Oblivious to the man watching them from just feet away, the birds went about their business, then flew away. “It makes me really proud that every day we can help people with vision loss stay in their job or be able to remain in their home or continue to do the things that matter to them.A group of sparrows perched on the edge of the bird feeder outside Lloyd Miller’s window, pecking at the seeds like there was no tomorrow. “I was passionate about the mission and what it could do and felt like my skill set could be a good fit,” Borchardt said. The organization provided such excellent service that, after working as a speech language pathologist, Borchardt accepted a job nine years ago because she felt aligned with Vision Forward’s objectives. It took a while to adjust to her new life, and the disease resulted in her being unable to drive and having difficulty reading without magnification.īefore working at the agency, Borchardt was a Vision Forward client. She has had Stargardt disease since age 19, which affects her central vision. Vision Forward also has a wide array of programs and services for babies and toddlers, school-age children and working-age adults.īorchardt knows what visual impairment is like. “…Borchardt said the most common issue that Vision Forward clients have is age-related macular degeneration, a progressive condition that impacts an individual’s central vision. Jacci Borchardt, Director of Operations recently spoke with the Racine Journal Times: With support from the Racine Community Foundation, Vision Forward has launched a campaign to raise awareness about its services and to help more people who are blind or visually impaired.
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