Maria Pikulski
Maria Pikulski served in the Army for 13 years between 1980 and 1993. Maria was 18 when she joined the Women’s Royal Army, first as a Private, and eventually went on to become a Corporal. During her service, she carried out varied duties including driving vehicles adapted for arctic conditions, cooking, and doing clerical work.
After leaving the Forces, Maria became a nurse in the local general hospital. One day in late 2002 one of her patients told her they were worried about her eyesight as she appeared to be struggling with simple tasks. Maria went to the optician and then to her GP, and was diagnosed with Lebers Optic Neuropathy which is brought on by a faulty gene in the optic nervous system. Maria’s sight deteriorated rapidly, and in February 2003 she had completely lost sight in her left eye. By July, her right eye was also affected. In September 2003 Maria was registered blind.
Maria heard about St Dunstan’s through a friend. She put in an application for an assessment and was accepted shortly after.
“When I lost my sight my world fell apart around me, and there were times when I didn’t even want to carry on living. But becoming a St Dunstaner saved me. Until that point, I had no concept of how I would even carry on. However, the more time I spent training at St Dunstan’s centre in Ovingdean, Brighton, the more I realised that, with their help, I could turn my life around.
“I needed to be around people who shared my circumstances, and I have met some truly amazing and inspiring individuals. I no longer want my life to end, in fact, I’m living it to the full. St Dunstan’s has helped me regain my confidence in basic life skills as well as encouraging me to do things I never thought I would do, such as taking part in charity races with other blind people. I really do feel like have my independence back.”
Maria was one of the first to take the ‘Supernova’ computer course designed to enable visually impaired people to use computers with confidence and skill. As a result of undertaking this course, Maria got a job working as a Senior Administrator with Action for the Blind where she has been for the past 16 months.
With the support of St Dunstan’s, Maria has also taken part in a number of sports and outward-bound activities, including running the London Marathon, skiing, sky-diving, adventure training and off-road ranging. Maria plans to take part in a triathlon this summer, and has an ambition to abseil down the Blackpool Tower.
“I’m so grateful to St Dunstan’s; their support has been life-changing, and my happiness and independence is down to them and the help they’ve given me over the past five and a half years.”
A growing number of ex-Service men and women are desperate for support: more World War Two veterans are losing their sight and more young British soldiers are at risk of returning home blind.
The reality is that we cannot meet this growing demand without you by our side. Please help us give more blind heroes an independent future. Please support
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