Blind Appendix
Hi there. Oh, you're still here? No, seriously, I'm glad you didn't give up, my dear reader. Welcome to the section titled Blind Appendix. If you think we're going to deal with the actual organ here, you're mistaken. I don't intend to analyze human anatomy. The real "Blind Appendix" is me, in all my glory.
The Road to Diagnosis
My story begins in childhood, when I had to wear glasses due to poor vision. At that time, my eye doctor believed that Zdenda was just restless and couldn't concentrate. It wasn't until much later that it was discovered I suffer from chronic retinal degeneration – the dying off of cells.
In elementary school, I was placed in the front rows because of my handicap. After finishing school, I moved on to the Škoda Ostrov vocational school. I completed my training as a mechanical fitter without major issues, but even then, I was realizing that glasses weren't enough. A pocket magnifying glass became my great helper.
A New Chapter
After my apprenticeship, I started working in trolleybus production. When Škoda Ostrov went bankrupt, I had to look for another job. Eventually, on the advice of friends, I applied for a disability pension and was moved from the world of the sighted to the land of the visually impaired and blind.
It was hard for me to sit at home, but help came again through organizations like TyfloCentrum and Tyfloservis. There, I learned practical skills – walking with a white cane, cooking, and working with specialized tools. Later, they directed me toward a massage course in Prague.
I remember a sentence I said back then: "Noooo, you'll never get me to Prague!" And how did it turn out? Judge for yourself. I have been providing massage services for several years now.
At the end of this article, I would like to thank my family and girlfriend, colleagues, and also the Karate Club Karlovy Vary (KKKV), where I box and where I feel great among friends.