By Cristina Rutherford.Para leer en EspañolWhen Luz Marina Rosenfeld, a Doral resident for over 24 years, lost her sight almost two years ago she felt her life was over. Even though she had her family’s support, with her husband of 30 years and three daughters, at first she was so devastated with her condition that she shut down for some months. Her doctor put her in contact with Miami Lighthouse, a nonprofit organization that provides rehabilitation services and programs for the blind or visually impaired to promote their independence. Virginia Jacko, Lighthouse’s CEO who is herself visually impaired, truly inspired her and “gave her the strength to continue in this difficult road of darkness”. Rosenfeld was invited to participate in “White Cane Day”, an annual fundraising activity, and due to her commitment and success in this event she was named speaker for this organization, a position she currently holds.Luz Marina’s biggest challenge after losing her sight was to make people aware that she had the same rights as any citizen. “People act as if you were inferior, they think that you will stay home all day, they treat you with apprehension, or sometimes they don’t even consider you at all. As you lose your vision, you certainly lose a big part of yourself, what you have to do is start to replace that part with tools.” This is where Miami Lighthouse comes in, an inspirational campus of knowledge. With this organization her life changed from dark to light; she started to learn how to be independent, to fend for herself, to become useful and live her life like any other person. Luz Marina says, “even though I cannot drive I have mobility through my legs and my guiding dog, a 4-year old golden retriever, Chelsea.” Rosenfeld adds that Chelsea has been vital to adapt to her hew life. “She goes with me wherever I go and although she has been fully trained as a service dog, I have to continuously reinforce and teach her”. Very proud Luz Marina says “Chelsea has been pivotal to me, she has even saved my life on occasions, when I would cross a street my dog would warn me of coming vehicles!” Rosenfeld has also learned how to use special programs like JAWS (Job Access With Speech), a screen reading software that helps her communicate by reading emails and texts, as well as understanding Braille. Additionally she has mastered other daily tasks like cooking, cleaning, exercising (she loves to walk about Doral Park with Chelsea), getting around, and overall having personal management. At present she is studying massage therapy at Florida’s College of Natural Health. Luz Marina’s commitment to her cause went even further; she wanted to help others with her same condition. She fought relentlessly to install ‘talking lights’, or audio pedestrian countdown timers, at some corners of our city. Currently these timers are in several crucial intersections (107th Ave and 41st St., 97th Ave. and 41st St. and 102nd Ave. and 52nd St.), however her goal is to expand their installation as well as the placement of special signs around the city. In addition Rosenfeld is trying to add more stops for Doral’s trolley route; at every community and at all the schools. For this project, Luz Marina has found support in Doral councilwoman Ana Maria Rodriguez, who has been a Miami Lighthousevolunteer for over 10 years. Rodriguez first heard of Lighthouse through the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce when they helped renovate the center located in downtown. Ana Maria believes it is important to create a committee for visually impaired that will tend to the needs of people with this condition. This coming October Miami Lighthouse will host their annual “White Cane Day”. Together with Ana Maria, Rosenfeld will actively work for this fundraiser; both women are extremely committed to this organization. Luz Marina feels that by becoming blind God blessed her because she lives happier than before; her mind just concentrates on the real important things of life. “Without faith in yourself, no work is ever possible, but with it one is amazed to find how many doors of opportunity will open.” One of her favorite thoughts is perseverance and self-confidence make everything possible. “Love life, life is beautiful, we just have to learn how to love it”. Her way of giving back to Miami Lighthouse is by asking for support for this magnificent organization. Time or donations will help another blind person by providing the opportunity for them to build the necessary skills to regain independence. If you wish to take part in this life-changing organization you can do so by logging ontowww.miamilighthouse.org. ————————- En Español ———————-

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