Bj Blahnik And His Leader Dog Jackson (part Two)
Author: Matt Nelson
Matt Nelson
Following the presentation to the Kindergarten-5th grade students on May 1st, BJ Blahnik then spoke to the Middle School students. He was introduced by Mr. Brad Racht, the middle school Principal. BJ began his story again; however, with the children being in middle school, the approach was different and was told more like a journey, which became very real and the kids listened intently.
BJ opened with the same setting of the overnight camping experience and how he was so surprised on how the kids could move around the campground at night but he could not. The eye doctors determined BJ had a condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and basically, he was going blind and would most likely be totally blind by the age of 18. He is not totally blind, but can distinguish between light and darkness. During the next several years, BJ became very scared and felt very alone. Because he was considered “different,” he started being bullied and not listened to. BJ did not look like he was going blind and for that no one knew how to help him.
When BJ was being bullied, it didn’t appear there were really any issues and he was labeled a troublemaker when in fact, BJ was just looking for someone to listen. BJ’s life began to fall apart and not knowing how to ask for help, he fell into deep depression and attempted suicide in sixth grade. BJ stated, “Thankfully, it did not work and with a lot of help and a lot of love, I was able to make it through but it was not easy.” For many years, BJ struggled with his thoughts until a good friend pulled him aside and spoke some truth to him and encouraged BJ to approach life more positively. BJ considered this information and made the conscious decision to approach the rest of his life differently through help and support.
With a new approach on life, opportunities began revealing themselves. On one occasion, BJ met a Lions Club member who told him all about what the Lions Club International https://www.lionsclubs.org organization was and how they help people. This individual also spoke about a guide dog organization called Leader Dogs for the Blind. https://www.leaderdog.org BJ did not know much about guide dogs and just listened and forgot about the person’s suggestion. Several months later, BJ was at an event when this same person approached BJ and gave him a piece of paper. To paraphrase this letter, it basically stated, “The Sister Bay Lions Club would like to sponsor a Leader Dog for you.” This meant BJ could receive a guide dog at no cost to him.
After receiving his first Leader Dog, in 2006, a German Shepherd named Diesel, BJ began navigating his new take on life. He began exploring new areas in Green Bay, Wisconsin and truly began seeing life differently. On one occasion, BJ met a person who was struggling in life because her 24-year-old son went blind overnight from a chemical spill. BJ had a meaningful conversation with her and gave some recommendations on how to communicate with her son. What BJ didn’t know was how important this moment was going to be for him as well.
About a month later, BJ was at the bus transfer station, going about his daily life. The same person recognized him from a very far distance and yelled across the crowd for BJ not to leave. BJ could hear the excitement in her voice as she approached. As she came closer and closer to him, BJ knew something very positive was about to happen. When she finally arrived, the lady wrapped her arms around BJ, began crying with positive emotions and said to him, “Thank you so much. I tried the things we talked about and my son and I are laughing again, we are talking again and I have my son back because of you. Thank you so much.” BJ was so happy for her and he felt a sense of pride and then a new feeling came over him. BJ said, “All this time, I believed my blindness was a curse and that I did something to deserve what I am and how I am labeled as not normal. My blindness is not a curse; my blindness is a gift from God because I can help people through my words.” BJ also thought of the Lions Club member and he knew joining the Lions Clubs was a calling to him and that was the day he became a member of the Lions Club.
With a new look on life, BJ began serving his community and helping those in need. He also began telling his story of how, in the beginning, he felt a sense of why me and modified those thoughts into a process of why not me. He may need to do it a little differently but in the end, as long as we are serving those in need, the world will be better for it.
BJ became a motivational/inspirational speaker and tried many new things. BJ learned how to sail and joined the USA Blind Sailing team and has won two bronze medals for the USA. He is married to Victoria and they have three sons. Together, BJ and Victoria own their own business, Reach Forward, which is a Day Service for adults with special needs. BJ story has continued and has his current Leader Dog Jackson, a yellow lab.
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PhotoCredit: Matt Nelson
Image 1 Caption: BJ's presentation at the Middle school. L-R Mr. Richard Heida, BJ, Leader Dog Jackson, the Middle School Principal Mr. Brad Racht, and the K-5th grade Principal Mr. Cook
Photo Credit: Matt Nelson
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