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Just a decade removed from graduating from the Mount, Vickie Russell Kennedy 鈥�68 was told she would eventually become blind from retinitis pigmentosa. Today a person might scour the Internet for information and look for technology that could help them weather the situation. In Kennedy鈥檚 day, there wasn鈥檛 much of either.

But she has been a part of helping with both.

鈥淚t was scary for me, and I didn鈥檛 have places to turn for answers,鈥� says Kennedy, who received her bachelor鈥檚 degree in music. 鈥淟ater I volunteered, literally having an 800 number that routed calls to my house from people facing the same fate to talk to me. I could help prepare them and show them how to try and deal their condition.鈥�

A previous article in the 2006 winter/spring Mount Magazine mentioned many of her important contributions, including her work with Guide Dogs for the Blind and conceiving and executing the 鈥淪ave Sight Sunday鈥� symposium at UC Berkeley. An update on Kennedy鈥檚 work:

Freida and fighting for others

Kennedy, who had been so active in helping others get guide dogs, realized her beloved guide Freida would soon be retired from guide dog duties. She launched a second career for her beloved yellow Labrador retriever that led to more than 3000 patient and staff visits between Queens Hospital and two St. Francis hospice facilities, all in Hawaii. Her next working dog, Angela, also a yellow Labrador retriever, was a part of some of the visits as well.

鈥淛ust as an example, there was an elderly patient who could speak but wouldn鈥檛,鈥� she says. 鈥淪he wouldn鈥檛 even open her eyes. Then Freida lovingly licked her hand. The woman opened her eyes and said, 鈥業 love you, Freida.鈥� There were many tears over that moment.鈥�

Kennedy also served on the board of Assistive Technology Resource Center. 鈥淚t鈥檚 for those with different challenges, which could be blindness, cognitive skills or other areas,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was a resource center where you could go work with the technology and someone there would teach you. This could be a computer or another helpful device.  Some would go to a blind center for four or five months of education learning Braille, technology and cane travel.鈥�

A board member of the Hawaii Association of the Blind, Kennedy chaired its annual convention this year, along with being the chair of its fundraising committee.

She is now lending her voice in a literal way. Along with husband Jim, Kennedy has been involved in providing audio description for the national parks and landmarks such as the Jefferson Memorial and, within the next few weeks, the Arizona Memorial. 鈥淲hen visitors go to any national park they are given a brochure, and we describe for the blind the actual photographs in the brochure.鈥�

She often relies on the resilience she learned when she traveled from her native Hawaii to become a student at the Mount. 鈥淐ollege was so much to get used to, and I admit I put a lot of pressure on myself,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut the school was such a support, and the people had a great spirit about them. There鈥檚 such a sense of community.鈥�

A great spirit herself, Kennedy could just enjoy living near the water in Oahu. But, there are people who still need her help. 鈥淚 was a mess when I was diagnosed all those years ago,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 my pleasure to help others to maybe have an easier time.鈥�