Lenny McHugh's Home Page

ABOUT LENNY

Blind Beatitudes

BLESSED ARE THEY that refrain from shouting when they speak to me.
BLESSED ARE THEY that talk directly to me and not to some one else.
BLESSED ARE THEY that say who they are when entering a room and say hello to me.
BLESSED ARE THEY that say goodbye to me when they leave so I am not left speaking to the air.
BLESSED ARE THEY that do not hesitate to say "SEE" when talking to me.
BLESSED ARE THEY who tap my shoulder gently when they approach from behind or from the side when speaking to me.
BLESSED ARE THEY who wait for me to extend my hand before shaking it.
BLESSED ARE THEY who place my hand on a object such as the back of a chair when telling me where it is, so I can seat myself.
BLESSED ARE THEY who do not leave me in a strange environment without orienting me to it.
BLESSED ARE THEY who offer me their arm so they can serve as my guide, instead of grabbing, pulling or shoving me.
BLESSED ARE THEY who come up to me in a large crowd and offer to help me when I appear disoriented.
BLESSED ARE THEY who do not embarrass me in a group of people by openly referring to my blindness in word or action.
BLESSED ARE THEY who laugh with me when I tell a joke related to blindness.
BLESSED ARE THEY who read me the menu and its prices and allow me to order my own meal.
BLESSED ARE THEY who take me to the cashier so I may pay for my own meal.
BLESSED ARE THEY who do not distract my guide dog from being my active eyes.
BLESSED ARE THEY who treat me like a human being, for like it or not I AM a human being.

My Family

Friends

LINKS

Resources For The Blind -

John McMahon's Visually Impaired Forum - These forums are here for the use of RP'ers and their families and friends.

CONTACT LENNY

E-mail Lenny

PHOTOGRAPHS

Tribute to Fred and Micah

Probably the hardest day of my life was February 10, 2009 when I lost my Freedom Guide Dog Micah. At a very early age not quite four years old. Micah developed a large mass in his bladder that could not be cured. This wonderful warm and full of life dog devoted himself to keeping me safe. Only as the illness increase he began to lose focus on his work but never lost his wonderful puppy playfulness. I am so very glad that Micah spent the last year and ten months of his life with me. Micah, I LOVE you and you shall always live in my heart.

To Fred: I,like every guide dog user, I am forever grateful to your kindness and unselfishness to take and raise these puppies only to have to return them. They are then trained to help blind individuals.

At age 88, Fred was Micah’s puppy raiser. At age 90, shortly after Micah and I became a team, Fred was a victim of cancer. The last command that I gave to Micah was "Micah, go find Fred".

Photograph of Fred holding MIcah when Micah was seven weeks old.
Reprinted with kind permission of Freedom Guide Dogs.

Lenny and Micah

Lenny and Indy

My Mind's Eye

I had to include this photograph. I have changed so much since high school that some classmates did not recognize me at my 35th reunion. When they went home and looked in their yearbooks, then they remembered me.

High School Graduation, June 1965

Sunrise Memory