What happens when you begin losing your vision as a child—and refuse to let it define your future?
In this inspiring episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland welcomes Kathy Nimmer, recipient of the prestigious Helen Keller Achievement Award, author, speaker, and retired high school English teacher who spent nearly three decades educating and inspiring students while living with blindness.
Kathy shares her remarkable journey of progressive vision loss caused by a rare retinal degenerative disease, the challenges she faced along the way, and the resilience that helped her build a life filled with purpose, achievement, and impact.
In this episode, Kathy discusses:
- Growing up with gradual vision loss and adapting to change
- Teaching high school English for nearly 30 years as a blind educator
- Overcoming depression, anorexia, and uncertainty about the future
- The role of advocacy, family support, and disability representation
- Pursuing mountain climbing, writing, public speaking, and teaching
- Employment challenges facing people who are blind or visually impaired
- Practical advice for families navigating vision loss and disability
Kathy also shares insights from her latest book, Two Plus Four Equals One, an anthology celebrating the unique bond between people with disabilities and their assistance dogs.
This powerful conversation is a reminder that while circumstances may change, purpose, passion, and perseverance can help us achieve far more than we ever imagined.
Learn more about Kathy at KathyNimmer.com.
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Mike Bolland sits down with Latisha Judkins, who shares her harrowing yet uplifting story of resilience. After losing her right leg below the knee to a flesh-eating bacteria, Latisha faced incredible challenges but emerged stronger than ever. Tune in to hear how she overcame physical and emotional hurdles, found support, and rebuilt her life with determination and hope. Latisha’s story is a testament to the human spirit’s power to thrive in adversity.
In this episode of We're Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland highlights three powerful stories from the limb loss community: A quadruple amputee's breathtaking skydive to celebrate his 65th birthday, showcasing resilience and courage. A nurse adjusting to life after a foot amputation caused by a bacterial infection, sharing his journey toward recovery and prosthetics. The mission of the Uniquely Me Foundation, empowering individuals with limb differences to embrace their uniqueness.
Mike Bolland sits down with Jeanette Jones, a childhood cancer survivor who shares her remarkable story. Diagnosed with cancer as a child, Jeanette faced years of treatment in an effort to save her left leg. At age 16, she underwent a hip disarticulation — a complex amputation that removes the entire leg, including the femur, from the pelvis. Jeanette's resilience and determination in the face of these challenges will leave you inspired. Tune in for her powerful insights on adapting to life after amputation and thriving beyond adversity.
