Recipe for success: Dickinson woman thrives despite low vision
At 85 years old, Jeanette Friedt spends most of her time in the kitchen, where the scent of sourdough bread and cinnamon rolls fill the air.
Sixty-eight years ago, she married, and together she and her husband built a life on their farm in Mott, N.D. With eight children and her German Russian roots, she found joy in the kitchen.
“Cooking wasn’t just a task, but a passion for me,” she said.
About 10 years ago, Jeanette was diagnosed with macular degeneration (MD), which runs deep in her family. Her mother and six of her 12 siblings also have MD.
“I’ve always been nervous that one day I’d lose my vision,” she said.
While driving from Mott to Dickinson, she soon realized how bad her vision was when she hit a car.
“I have not driven since that day,” she said.
Seeing beyond limits
With her vision fading, she learned from her local senior center about the Older Individuals Who are Blind (OIB) program provided through North Dakota Health and Human Services’ Vocational Rehabilitation.
With their support, she started to see a whole new life and quickly realized that with the right support and tools, she could be independent and reignite her love of cooking.
Six years ago, she and her husband moved to a Dickinson senior living community.
Her kitchen is now full of small, but powerful tools including bump dots on the stove and microwave, long oven mitts, a bread slicer, high contrast cutting boards and most importantly, an electronic video magnifier.
“I use it for everything from reading recipes to medication labels and my mail,” she said with a smile. “I could not live without it.”
A vision of sharing joy
Living independently and following a passion is possible for people with low vision — just ask Jeannette.
Now, her neighbors often find fresh baked and canned goods waiting for them. It’s her way of living a fulfilling life.
“I am happy to have good neighbors to bake for. This is my happy place,” she said.
If you know someone with a similar story and may benefit from vision services, contact North Dakota Health and Human Services Vocational Rehabilitation program at (800) 755-2745, 711 (TTY) or hhs.nd.gov/vr.
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