I am thirty years of age, I have three brothers and three sisters, I come in the middle. When I was 2 years old, my parents discovered that I had some deafness and I needed to wear hearing aids and I went to a special school from the age of 3 years, until I was 8 years old and then I was transferred to an ordinary school. I went on to University and got my Degree and my Masters in Social Science. I was 24 years of age before I was diagnosed as having Usher Syndrome (a combination of hearing loss and RP). I went through a phase of denial for about 2 years, where I pretended that I didn't have any problems. However, when I started losing more of my sight, and found things becoming more difficult to do, I was forced to acknowledge that I had RP, but I still didn't accept it. I struggled against it and went through feelings of isolation and some depression for a while. Luckily, I had lots of support from my family and friends. At 27, I got married, bought a house and started a new job in the University where I did my Degree and Masters. My husband, Dave, and I also became more and more involved in the work of the Irish RP society and we started going to the International and European meetings and we met so many great people from all over the world. Meeting so many positive people in the same situation as myself has helped me to come to terms with my RP, I am no longer afraid of what my future might hold, I am not so afraid of losing my sight. Last July, I learned how to use the long cane to help me get around more easily, and I am amazed at the independence it has given me. Since then, I have been using the cane everywhere and I've never been happier. My husband and I are now expecting our first baby in August and we're really looking forward to the pitter-patter of tiny feet. It will be a challenge being a parent with RP but one that I feel ready for. I think having RP has made me lead a much more fulfilling life, I live every day to the full and enjoy life and everything it brings - I wish the same kind of happiness to all other people with RP.