(Above) VA Medical Center Executive Director Dr. Staci Williams presents Veteran Paul White will a bucket of items for his trip to the National Disabled Veterans Golf Clinic in Cedar Rapids, IA
It was a wonderful send off under the Friday morning sunshine by the gazebo at the VA Illiana Health Care – Danville VA Medial Center. Marine Corps and Army Reserves Veteran Paul White, a Kansas City native and current VA EMS employee, became blind back in about 2008; while he was serving in California, due to his battle with glaucoma. Eventually, he received treatment, at the Hines VA Hospital up north, that now allows him to see at a limited distance. But before some of his sight was restored, he took up golf about three years ago, as part of the VA Blind Rehabilitation and Recreation Therapy programs. On Friday, White was getting ready to head for Cedar Rapids, Iowa to represent the community at the National Disabled Veterans Golf Clinic. Paul White told us, this is something he’s very thankful for.
AUDIO: I was totally blind when I hit the first ball I ever hit. I was coached really well by the team up in Hines. They did really good therapy on me. Once I hit that first ball I wanted to hit more. When I was up there at Hines I couldn’t see at all. And eventually they did surgery; and when that healed I can now see past, maybe right at 100 yards.
VA Medical Center Executive Director Dr. Staci Williams says this is a fantastic moment for the Danville VA Tea
AUDIO: It’s an absolute wonderful opportunity for VA Illiana to send people to the national stage. We’re a great place. And Mr. White just really exhibits the best about our Veterans. We are so fortunate to be able to serve, and so fortunate to see him off to the golf clinic.
And Paul White did admit, with a big smile, once he could see a little better, he worked even harder at that all important number one rule of golf: Keep your head down.
