The first story that comes to Quentin’s mind about a turning point in his life is about his attendance at a school for the blind. When Quentin lost his vision it was very devastating for him. He was already dealing with having to wear braces on his legs and the severe weakness and pain that came with having Charcot Marie Tooth disease. The depression that fell over him was overwhelming for a boy his age and nobody could bring him out of it.
His parents sent him away to the Georgia Academy for the blind and that just made things so much worse for him. He was so homesick that he cried every night and refused to make friends with anyone. But what he did not know, was it was going to be the best thing that could have happened to him.
The swim team coach Mrs. Wright, was so very encouraging to him and finally talked him into joining the swim team. One thing about Quentin is that he loved the water since he was little. He still was very shy and was still apprehensive about making friends. But as the days went by, Quentin’s coach and the support of the other boys and girls on the team gave Quentin a sense of self-worth and self-esteem he had not known before. He began to come out of his depression and began to blossom as his coach encouraged him and rooted for him. His self-esteem soared and he had become, indeed, just one of the boys. Quentin believes that being on the swim team was the turning point in his entire life.
He quickly became friends with everyone on campus, including boys and girls with all different sorts of handicaps. There were not just blind and visually impaired kids, but there were deaf and mentally challenged children as well. He began to love each and every one of them as if they were his brother or sister. His mother told him early that he could do anything he put his mind to, and his swim coach strongly reinforced what he already had inside of him just waiting to come out.
On one particular swim competition trip to St. Augustine Florida, to the Florida school for the blind, something happened that Quentin will never forget. About halfway there the bus stopped at a convenience store for a bathroom stop and to get gas. At that time Quentin had began to regain some vision and so he got off the bus with the others to get a snack. As he was walking out of the store the school bus was pulling away onto the highway and Quentin was totally, instantly, terrified and yelled out. They did not hear him.
He thought that he was going to be stranded in a place he had never been before. He did not know what he was going to do. Mind you, this was way before cell phones.
A car pulled up with two teenage boys a bit older than him and asked, “Did that bus just leave you behind?” and then they offered him a ride. Of course Quentin did not want to be stranded, so he reluctantly took the ride. The two older boys and Quentin pulled up beside the bus on the highway and finally got their attention to pull over. Quentin’s coach obviously didn’t do a very good headcount before leaving. Fortunately in the end, all the kids were laughing their butts off and so was Quentin, mostly out of relief more than anything.
They had a successful swim meet in Florida: Quentin took home a trophy and ribbons! It was a trip that Quentin will always hold dear to his heart and he fondly tells it now to get a good laugh.
When asked the question “What has been the most important lesson that you have learned over your life?”, Quentin, without hesitation, says:
“It really is never the events or situations that come your way that bring you any sort of happiness. Instead, it is most always what you choose to do with those events and situations that life inevitably brings your way, that brings you the joy in life.”
About the Author: Quentin Martin is a retired professional photographer and has lived a somewhat interesting and challenging life. He was diagnosed with CMT, a neuromuscular disease, at the young age of 11 years old and lost his vision at the age of 12, which sent him spiraling downward in deep depression. He accomplished his early education from the seventh to the 12th grade at the Academy for the Blind in Macon, Georgia where he received a great education. It was here that he met some really encouraging people that taught him not to let his disabilities ever get in his way of living life to the fullest.
During Quentin’s senior year of high school he began to spontaneously regain his vision, and after finishing school, he got his degree in photography a few years later. He always loved photography since he was a little boy and he decided to pursue this route to make up for what he lost those years without vision.
Quentin now dedicates himself to helping others in any way that he can that deal with CMT, as well as vision loss through his Facebook page, quentinscauseforcmt. So many people were there for him throughout his life and he says “It is the least that I can do, however small an impact I may make on someone’s life.”
He now resides in South Georgia with his very loving puppy Keagan, and continues to do the best he can and lead a fulfilling life.
