And those who know her would be the first to tell you that Melissa Smith will not sit back and feel sorry for herself. Why, she even ran cross country in high school. Up until now, Smith used an unsighted person's cane to get around in the world. Many people can get a feel for what it is like to be blind by simply closing their eyes. That's what Melissa Smith's world is like.
Sighted people can see a limb in the way when walking.
Sighted people can see cars coming down the street, or see a curb on the street. At the same time. The cane, until now, was an extension of her eyes, but one that dealt with the sense of feel and not sight. Sure, she could get around, but in her own words, it was a slow process. In 1983, the Smith family moved outside of town to open the Smith Stables and the Equine Shop.