This is a new release of the original 1947 edition.

An inspirational and humourous journey through one woman's eyes about being sighted then losing her vision due to a progressive retina disorder. Often witty and enlightening, this book is aimed to help individuals meet the challenges of vision loss with dignity and confidence.

A 25-year-old backcountry wanderer, a man happiest exploring wild places with his dog, Dan Bigley woke up one midsummer morning to a day full of promise. Before it was over, after a stellar day of salmon fishing along Alaska's Kenai and Russian rivers, a grizzly came tearing around a corner in the trail. Dan barely had time for "bear charging" to register before it had him on the ground, altering his life forever. "Upper nose, eyes, forehead anatomy unrecognizable," as the medevac report put it. Until then, one thing after another had fallen into place in Dan's life. He had a job he loved taking troubled kids on outdoor excursions. He had just bought a cabin high in the Chugach Mountains with a view that went on forever. He was newly in love. After a year of being intrigued by a woman named Amber, they had just spent their first night together. All of this was shattered by the mauling that nearly killed him, that left him blind and disfigured. Facing paralyzing pain and inconceivable loss, Dan was in no shape to be in a relationship. He and Amber let each other go. Five surgeries later, partway into his long healing journey, they found their way back to each other. The couple's unforgettable story is one of courage, tenacious will, and the power of love to lead the way out of darkness. Dan Bigley's triumph over tragedy is a testament to the ability of the human spirit to overcome physical and emotional devastation, to choose not just to live, but to live fully. Visit Dan Bigley's site or Beyond the Bear.

Sheila Claymore was born with Microcephaly, a genetic defect that causes the cranium to be abnormally small preventing the brain from developing properly. Sheila, as a toddler called herself CiCi because she couldn't pronounce her name. CICi had a loving family who accepted her as she was in spite of her condition and encouraged her from the day she was born. To their joy and to the surprise of the pediatrician caring for her, CiCi defied the many odds stacked against her and was fairly high functioning for someone with Microcephaly. CiCi always tries hard and does her best at every challenge she faces. Follow CiCi's heartwarming life story as she uses her talents to prove to everyone she really is SPECIAL.