Marilena was born with cataracts on her eyes, and as a result, had her lenses removed. This left her with horizontal nystagmus, and while it didn’t affect her much growing up, things changed when she started university in 2020. Marilena began experiencing eye strain and fatigue, and doctors eventually diagnosed her with visual vertigo. Now, at 44 years old, she lives with light sensitivity, low central vision, less than 10 degrees of peripheral vision, and frequent vertigo that causes visual shaking and dizziness. Often, only one eye functions at a time.
As a child, Marilena received support from teachers and Vision Australia to aid with her education. Years later in 2020, as her vision worsened, Marilena reconnected with Vision Australia. “A friend of mine said, hey, you could be getting help, but I didn’t think I was eligible. It was a huge eye opener for me, from fumbling through life, to making the decision to get help. I called Vision Australia and said what can you do for me? And that’s where their support started,” she explains.
Marilena first considered getting a Seeing Eye Dog when her pet dog, Ruby, started to support her travel by slowing down on walks and alerting her when people were around. “I thought to myself, if my little foxy dog can instinctively support me like this, imagine what a Seeing Eye Dog could do?”
After having a bad fall in 2021, Marilena made the decision to apply for a Seeing Eye Dog, and in August 2022, she met Hamilton for the first time. “He is such a vibrant, friendly and happy boy who is full of cheek and spunk,” she says.
Being a single mother of three, Marilena’s life is always busy, but thanks to Hamilton, she now gets to take on life with confidence. Since being paired with him, Marilena has made the decision to go back to studying and has secured a job offer following the completion of her course. “Hamilton is like my shadow, and my best friend, but he is also a part of me. I can’t imagine doing life without him. He’s given me so much more confidence to be independent, and to move freely and quickly. It’s just so amazing to see what I’ve been able to achieve since having him,” Marilena says.
Hamilton has also had an impact on Marilena’s ability to interact and connect with her family.
