WOTM 27 Featuring Kimberly White

Introducing the Fabulous Kimberly White

My name is Kimberly White, I am both honored and humbled to participate in raising awareness and helping to change society’s perception of blindness.

I am happily married, living in Portland, OR; my son is a junior at Santa Clara University, majoring in Physics; he too has RP.

I was born, an only child, in Cincinnati and grew up in a NW suburb of Chicago – Schaumburg, Illinois. Following college (The Chicago Art Institute of Design), I moved to San Diego where I embraced successful careers at Nordstrom & Nike. After having our son, I started my own interior design company and now, upon losing my sight, I am a community volunteer and Creator!

The greatest job title I’ve EVER held is “MOM” – after my one & only son was born 21 yrs ago, I was diagnosed with a genetic hereditary eye disease: retinitis pigmentosa (RP) – it rendered me night blind, which I had always been but was never aware of because you “don’t know what you don’t know”,  I never saw at night [as I told the Dr., I thought that’s why it was called night – believing that no one saw in  darkness]; I was notorious for sitting on total stranger’s laps in movie theaters and consistently falling off of curbs or tripping over chairs/tables. My overall visual perception can be explained as tunnel vision [close one eye and hold an empty paper towel roll over the open eye – that demonstrates what I see], in addition with RP, we struggle with the early onset of cataracts [smear Vaseline on your glasses for an understanding] and CME, which is inflammation [cysts] of the retina [much like opening your eyes underwater and what you would see].

I drove during the daylight hours not at night. But as my vision has deteriorated, four years ago I was forced to relinquish my drivers license and acclimate to a white cane. This new journey forced me to adapt to many changes in my life; one was giving up my design business and depending on others for ALL transportation needs!

I am legally blind but I wake up every day with a desire to educate, motivate, &/or inspire, hopefully, one person. I love the beach, walking, socializing, crafting, celebrations and new adventures!

The adversity in life  has given me strength, I possess enormous passion to create a better community & world. My story is one of loss, depression, and isolation – turned hope, support & community. HOPE is something that everyone needs to hear at some point in life.

Throughout my own experience, using a cane, I have been on the receiving end of lack of understanding, support, bullying and inequity. Society has done a terrible job of educating and promoting visual impairment. Many people believe that being blind means the absence of ALL vision, which clearly is not the case. I wear makeup, I have “sassy” hair – by choice, I am a wife, a mother, I have friends and an active social life — I am alive, full of life and unstoppable! I plan, organize & execute events & fundraisers. I create unique items made with corks [living near the wine country in Oregon, it was a natural]: picture frames, wine bottle covers, earrings & apparel. I hand paint furniture and create cards and decor that sparkle! I recently completed my first Acting class and LOVED the experience!

Even though I have lost most of my vision, I possess a love [and sincere appreciation for life] … we all have “stuff”, adversity that others aren’t necessarily aware of, but the importance is educating others, in an effort to raise awareness in hopes of bringing kindness and acceptance to those suffering!

I hope & pray through science and medical research and advancements, that one day there will be a cure for RP. But until then, I maintain a commitment to helping others understand visual impairment!

“The eyes are useless when the mind is blind!”