Heather and Lesley from Newcastle are celebrating a festive milestone this Christmas with their guide dogs, Connor and Kide, who have transformed their lives.
This isn’t the only milestone shared by the two women. Brought together by their sight loss, they have also shared the same journey of finding support, and being matched and partnered with their guide dogs within a week of each other earlier this year. All while forming a special lifelong friendship.
Heather’s life changed overnight in 2022 when she lost her sight due to a brain lesion. A fiercely independent and adventurous person, she found herself suddenly facing an unfamiliar world.
“It was very tricky to adapt,” she recalls. “To lose it overnight was a shock. I didn’t know if I could be myself again. Even being a passenger in a car felt scary.”
Determined not to let her sight loss define her, Heather reached out to Newcastle Vision Support (NVS) and began long cane training with Vicky Harris, a vision rehabilitation worker who would later encourage her to apply for a guide dog. It was through NVS that she met Lesley, who had also experienced the isolation and challenges of sight loss.
Lesley was 32 when she discovered she was visually impaired, following a road traffic incident. A routine eye test revealed she had Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative condition that causes progressive sight loss.
“The police assessment was shocking,” Lesley recalls. “They asked, ‘How long have you been going blind?’ I had no idea. At the time, I had a six-month-old son and was planning my wedding- it turned my world upside down.”
As Lesley’s sight worsened over the years, she avoided facing the full reality of her sight loss. It wasn’t until a series of personal losses, including the deaths of her parents, that she reached out for help. Joining NVS and working with Vicky, she regained her confidence and was introduced to Heather.
The two women connected instantly, forming a lifelong friendship and a support network with others facing similar challenges. They now share a WhatsApp group where they exchange tips, advice, and encouragement, and regularly meet to support one another.
“Heather and I became best mates almost immediately,” Lesley says. “She’s so brave and tells me how it is! We laugh together because we understand each other completely.”
When Vicky suggested they apply for guide dogs, both Heather and Lesley embraced the opportunity. In early 2024, they were each matched with their dogs, Connor and Kide, and began training together. The timing felt serendipitous, as they supported one another through the process.
“Connor is me in dog form,” Heather says with a laugh. “He’s changed everything for me. From the moment we met, I knew he was the perfect match. Not one day have I woken up and felt sorry for myself since I’ve had him.”
Heather’s life with Connor has been transformative. The guide dog has given her the confidence to navigate busy city streets, travel independently, and even return to her passion for running.
“I don’t feel like anything is off the table anymore,” she says. “Connor and I recently tackled London, and even in the chaos, he made me feel safe. He’s given me my sparkle back.”
Lesley’s experience with Kide has been equally life-changing. For years, she avoided going out after dark due to her worsening night blindness, but with Kide by her side, she’s rediscovered her independence.
“She truly takes the horror away from blindness,” Lesley says. “For the first time in years, I look forward to going out in winter. Kide gives me so much freedom.”
The dogs have also become beloved members of both their families.
Heather’s daughter, Emily, has joined her on the Couch to 5K program, with plans to run the Great North Run in the future to raise funds for Guide Dogs and Newcastle Vision Support. Lesley’s husband and sons adore Kide, and she is channelling her renewed confidence into advocacy and creative ambitions of writing a book.
As Heather and Lesley prepare to celebrate their first Christmas with their beloved guide dogs, they reflect on the life-changing support they’ve received from Guide Dogs and NVS.
“Thanks to Connor, I’m ready to face whatever comes our way,” Heather says. “The support from Guide Dogs and this amazing community feels like one big hug.”
Lesley adds: “Kide has opened up my world again. I feel hopeful, and I want to share that hope with others. This Christmas, we’re celebrating all we’ve achieved, and we can’t wait for what’s ahead.”
