On March 27, 1952, at 6:46a.m., a healthy 6lb. 12oz., 17 inch baby boy named
Martin George Knight was born.

The only difference in my birth was that I had six fingers on both hands and six toes on each foot. My parents did not know what to do about this and they asked our doctor about it. His advice to them was to wait and see if the extra fingers and toes would work. When the extra toes and fingers did not do anything, the decision was made to surgically remove them so I would not look any different from the other children. The day after the extra digits were removed, for whatever reason, I became cross-eyed.

January 22, 1954, a daughter named Joy was born to the Knight family. She seemed to have a normal birth. April 26, 1955, another son, Bill, was added to the Knight family. He was also born with extra digits on both the feet. Our parents were surprised when a second child was born with extra digits. In 1956, Joy was diagnosed with a hole in her heart. There was no place in New Hampshire to take care of her heart condition. Our parents had to make the decision whether to go to Boston, Massachusetts or to Connecticut so she could have her heart condition treated. Our parents did not want to bring up three small children in Boston, so they decided to come to Connecticut.

Our father had college friends that lived in Winsted, Connecticut and they told him that he could come stay with them to find a job and housing for us. He spent the summer with them and found a teaching job for himself and a house for us, and then we moved to Winsted, Connecticut. During the summer of 1957, we were playing outside and our father called us in for dinner. Our next door neighbor, Dr. Humpage had told my father that he would be able to correct my crossed eyes. My father was amazed! My parents had been told many times that nothing could be done to fix them. Dr. Humpage felt that my eyes should be corrected before I began kindergarten in the fall before I was given a hard time about them. July 1957, one eye was corrected and then in August 1957, the other eye was done.

In September, my mother told me that I would be going to school shortly for kindergarten. I put up quite a fuss! I said that I would not go to school! I knew that she said it is school but I thought that it was another hospital. From birth to kindergarten I had nine surgeries and many visits to doctors, so I was sure this was true! My mother would tell me that it really is school and that she would be there at 11:15 to pick me up every day. I fussed some more but I lost out and went to school.

October 31, 1959, another daughter was born to the Knight family, Debra. She also had extra digits, both hands and not on the feet. At the time Debra was born, I was home from school. My weight was too much for my feet and I could not walk. I had to crawl wherever I went and at night my father would carry me up to bed. I was out of school six weeks and my second grade teacher would send me my homework to do as well as the second grade teacher at the Barkhamsted School, where our father taught. My father was my tutor at that time. At first, the doctors could not find anything to help my feet until we found a doctor that molded arch supports of my feet. This worked and I did not have to go to Newington Children’s Hospital.

School life was normal up to about fifth grade. I was losing depth perception and was not able to play ball with the guys. I could not play so I had no friends. My parents saw what this was doing with me and we discussed this situation with our doctor and he recommended that I go to Lakeville, Connecticut, to the Housatonic Psychiatric Center and see Dr. Ashley. For two years, I saw Dr. Ashley regularly and he is not only a great doctor, but a good friend as well. In seventh grade, when the students got to know me for who I was and not whether I could play ball, I had many friends. My home room teachers, Mr. Adamo and Mr. Burr, would let me go into Pearson School before the other students, to help me get to homeroom without the halls crowded with students. Mr. Adamo had one of the students follow me to make sure that I got from class to class safely. The baseball coach, Mr. Ryan, asked me to be the manager for the team and I received my letter both in 7th and 8th grade for being the manager.

While I was in 7th grade, Joy had gone for open heart surgery at Yale. Her cardiologist did not do the open heart surgery because the cardiologist said that the hole was too minute. It would have been more of a risk opening her up then leaving the hole alone. My freshman year at Gilbert was challenging. I was considered a liability there and to remove me from being a liability I was not allowed to take physical education, industrial arts, or extracurricular activities, only my academic subjects and study halls. I also had my own table in the cafeteria. They were afraid that I would spill on myself and other students and the only other students that sat at that table were students with disciplinary problems.

March 17, 1967, I went for my annual eye examination. After Dr. Haines examined my eyes, he asked my parents to come in for a consultation. Dr. Haines told me and my parents, that he was going to have to declare me blind with retinitis pigmentosa, an offshoot of the Laurence-Moon Bardet-Biedl syndrome, or LMBBS. Then he explained what the RP had done to my eyes. He explained about the loss of depth perception, night blindness, and the tunnel vision. I consider this as my Good News / Bad News Day. The Good News was that I finally knew why things had been happening with my eyes. I then understood why I was reluctant to go out and do things outside at night and why I had to turn my head to look at people when they spoke to the side of me. The Bad News was not knowing what would happen to me now or what would happen to me in the future.

On March 27, I toured Oak Hill School, the Connecticut School for the Blind. It was an interesting tour. I first met with the principal and other staff members. Then I met one of the students of the class that I would be in and he showed me the classrooms. I went to class with him, ate in the school dining room with the other students, and then went back to my mother at the end of the school day. It was great to be a part of a school class and to eat with the other students. I had decided this was where I wanted to go to school, even though, I did not tell that to my mother at first. That evening, my parents were concerned about the choice I was going to make. At dinner I announced that I wanted to go to Oak Hill, and my parents were relieved.

April, 1967, Bill went for his eye exam and he was also declared blind with the RP and the LMBBS. Within the next year, Debra too was declared blind with the RP and the LMBBS. After this our parents had a family discussion. They explained to us that the remaining sight that we had would more than likely be with us for the rest of our lives. They mentioned how Bill and Debra would be also be going to Oak Hill. They were not given the choice like I was. Our parents said, ”We have learned through Marty. Bill and Debra will not have to go through some of abuses that Marty had to go through." Then they discussed with us what they would be expecting out of us for our lives. They asked us to live as much of a normal life as possible, to do what we were able to do and do our best at all times, to be as independent as possible, and most of all NEVER use your blindness as an excuse. They also said, If we ask you to do something and you make your best attempt and find out you cannot do something that will be fine, but it will not be all right just to say I cannot do it because I am blind without attempting the task. Then I finished out my freshman year at Gilbert.

During the summer between my freshman and sophomore year of high school, I attended a Summer School Program at Oak Hill School. During the Summer School, I learned typing, orientation and mobility, daily living skills, and met other students and started learning how to cope with the unsighted world after being in the sighted world. I remember one day, when Mrs. Holland was teaching me how to fold money. I asked her why she was teaching me this when I could still see the bills. She told me that she was teaching me this for when you need it later. She said that someday I may not have the sight that I have now and by doing this now, when I don’t need it, it will come automatic to me. This way when I do need itI would know what to do! She said, "Trust me, this will come in handy for when you will need it.” I finished out my high school education at Oak Hill and graduated June 20, 1970.

After a short stay at Post Junior College, I attended Northwestern Connecticut Community College, in Winsted. I had my books on reel to reel tapes, since cassettes were just coming into the marketplace. Tests were given to me either orally or written with Flare pen and then I would write the answers into the Blue Books that were given to us for tests. While I was attending Northwestern, I would go to the YMCA and a friend instructed me into long distance swimming and I would swim about a half mile each day that I went to the Y. After keeping track of 50 miles, I received the Presidential Sports Award for Swimming. At this time, when I went to Northwestern, I would carry my cane but when I went down the street in Winsted, I would not carry my cane. At school, students would sit in the hallways and I would carry it so they would know that I was not bumping into them intentionally but it was accidental. Since I grew up and knew the Main Street of Winsted, at other times I would not carry the cane. Then after advice of adult friends, who recommended that I should carry the cane with me at all times, whether I used it or just carried it for my safety and understanding of other people since I was sometimes crossing against the light on Main Street. My parents were also trying to get me to carry the cane more often and everyone said, “Marty, you better start thinking about carrying that cane more because someday, something will happen to you and you will have wished that you had the cane with you.” During this time, I knew that I was losing more and more of the central vision and was becoming totally blind but was keeping that to myself. I am not sure but I think I totally lost my sight around 21.

June 3, 1973, I graduated from Northwestern Connecticut Community College, receiving an Associate in Science Degree in General Arts and Sciences.

September, 1972, I was asked to consider being a member of the Winsted Lions Club. I decided that I would and I was sponsored by District Governor, Milan “Mike” Knight. In 1974, I attended the International Association of Lions Club Convention, in San Francisco. I enjoyed San Francisco. At the convention, I helped turn around a cable car at the end of the cable car line. They are turned on a large turntable. I went to Fisherman’s Wharf and took the boat tour of San Francisco Bay. We had also gone to San Francisco to help Lion Joseph McLoughlin to be elected to the office of International 3rd Vice President. He became International 3rd Vice President. In 1976, I transferred my membership to the Middletown Lions Club In 1977, I became a member of the Board of Directors of the Middletown Lions Club. In 1977, I attended the International Association of Lions Club Convention in New Orleans. I had an interesting experience in arriving in New Orleans. We landed very quickly, 35,000 feet to below sea level, and this quick landing the pressure built up in my head and all of a sudden I could not hear. I panicked because all of a sudden I could not hear and could not see. I had difficulty in asking for something to blow out my nose. I am not sure what I did but I think I pointed to my nose and the next thing I knew that I had paper towels to blow out the nose and then it opened my ears and I could hear again. I had not experienced this before and was not sure how long it was going to last, I was glad that it was not long, even though, it felt like a long while. I then realized how it is to be worse without hearing than without sight.

During the evenings, my father, mother, and I would go out for dinner. Mother would go back to the hotel and my father and I would go to Bourbon Street and listen to the Dixieland music. We would go to Preservation Hall, Al Hirt’s Place, LeMason Bourbon, and Pete Fountain’s Place. We also had Hurricanes at Pat O’Briens. Joseph McLoughlin became International President and when he was elected, we demonstrated and marched through the Louisiana SuperDome. Then we went on the Super Dome tour.

In 1979, I attended the International Association of Lions Club convention, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. At this convention, I saw the Leader Dogs program. The Lions of Michigan were in the same hotel as the Lions of Connecticut and one evening I was asked by a representative of leaders, “How would you like to see what it is like to walk with a dog guide.” I experienced it and then during the convention I attended a forum on the leader Dog program. From 1980-1994, I had dog guides. I had four different dogs during this time. After awhile the dog guides would become over loyal and over protective of me and I would have to retire them before I owned someone else's life. The dog guide were Champ, a German shepherd, Fletcher, a yellow Labrador retriever, Charlie, a mixed shepherd, and Digum, a black Labrador retriever.

In 2001, I was elected First Vice President of the Middletown Lions Club. 2002-2003, I became President of the Middletown Lions Club. I was installed President on June 11. At the Middletown Common Counsel Meeting, I was presented with a Proclamation from Mayor Dominique Thorton, Mayor of Middletown. In the Proclamation, it briefly mentioned some of my life accomplishments. At the end of the Proclamation, Mayor Thorton proclaimed June 11, 2002, as Martin G. “Marty” Knight in the City of Middletown for his dedicated commitment to life and service to the City of Middletown. 2003-Present, I have been a Zone Chairman serving a Zone in District 23-C of Lions International.

Other awards that I have received in Lions are the 100% Presidents Excellency Award, First Year Zone Chairman Award, Melvin Jones Fellow from the Lions Club International Foundation. In 2004, I was the District 23-C Connecticut Lions Eye Research Foundation Sight Saver Day chairman and received a Certificate of Appreciation from Connecticut Lions Eye Research Foundation President Art Davies.

I received an interesting phone call one day. My rehabilitation counselor, Cheryl Burns called me. She said that she had a possible job for me but it had a problem with it. After Cheryl rambled about the problem, she finally took a breath and I asked Cheryl what was the possible job and what was the problem. She said that the job was a darkroom technician at Middlesex Hospital, in Middletown, Connecticut. This job would be developing X-Rays through an automatic processor in a darkroom. She said that the problem was that I would have to move away from home since the job was in Middletown and that it would be impractical for someone to drive me 50 miles each way. She then asked me what I thought about this. I told her it was not a problem and that I would move to Middletown and would be interested in taking a look at the job. I had been out of school about a year and there was nothing in the Winsted area. Cheryl said that she would call the hospital in the morning to set up the interview. My sister Joy had overheard the conversation and asked me if I wanted her to mention it at dinner with ur parents. I told her to wait and see what happens. After dinner, we were having coffee and dessert and Joy said that I had an interesting phone call today. At first, I was not answering, and Joy was too far away from me to kick under the table. I then told the family that I had a possibility of a job as a darkroom technician at Middlesex Hospital developing X-Rays and that I would have to move away from home because the job is in Middletown, about 50 miles from here. My parents asked me if I knew anything more about the job. I told them no, but that Cheryl was to call the hospital in the morning to set up an interview. My mother then asked when I thought I would hear from Cheryl. I told her that I thought Cheryl would call tomorrow. My mother said, Don’t hold your breath.

The next morning my mother came home from one of her school bus runs and asked me again when I tought I would hear from Cheryl. Mother, had just missed the phone call. I had an interview the next morning at 10:00a.m. My mother was in shock since Cheryl had never done anything that quickly before! I went for the interview and was accepted to become their darkroom technician. I went to Middletown before I started work and learned where the hospital was, got housing at the Northern Middlesex YMCA, and had mobility lessons from the Y to the hospital. July 28, 1974, my mother and I packed my things and moved me to the Northern Middlesex YMCA in her mustard yellow Pinto. 8:0’0a.m., July 29, 1974, I started working as the darkroom technician for the X-Ray Department. When I first started working at the hospital, I knew a handful of people and only knew my way from the Y to the hospital, and eventually learned my way around the hospital and around Middletown.

During the years, I developed X-Rays, nuclear medicine films, Ultrasound films, CAT scan films, MRI scan films, and mammograms. From 1976 to 1981, I was the Department representative for the Middlesex Hospital Employee’s Counsel. In 2004, I received a letter letting me know that I had been nominated by my fellow employees as a finalist for the Frank R. Corcoran, Jr. Employee Recognition Award, formerly known as the Employee of the Year Award. I then had to write my biographical sketch and my supervisors had to also write my biographical sketch and also explain why they felt that I was deserving of the award. At the Annual Service Award Dinner, it was announced by Middlesex hospital’s President and CEO, Bob Keilley, that I was first runner-up for the award. I was invited to a tea for the winner and the two runners-Up. At the tea, I was introduced as First Runner-Up and received an American Express Money Card for $100, and received an extra personal day. Now X-Ray and the other modalities except for Mammography are now done digitally and with computerized radiology. Since mammography is still using films and an automatic processor, I am now the darkroom technician developing the mammography , breast localizations, and stereotactic localizations at Middlesex Hospital’s Out Patient Center in Middletown, Connecticut.

In 1973, I was asked to serve the Advisory Committee for the Lions Gallery for the Senses at the Wadsworth Atheneum. This is an art gallery set up by the Lions of District 23-B so people could explore art exhibits by using their senses without having sight. There were many exhibits in this Gallery. Exhibits in this Gallery included All Types of Clocks, Chairs, an exhibit of different types of Tea including a Tea house, and several tea services. I had many interesting experiences serving on the Advisory Committee. In 1979, I was asked to be the Advisor for a Discovery in Stone exhibit. Sally Williams, the Gallery Curator, and I went to the studio of Jane B. Armstrong, in Manchester, Vermont. We toured her studio and picked out the twenty stone sculptures that we were going to have in the Discovery in Stone exhibit. Jane sculptured in limestone, granite, alabaster, marble and made animal sculptures and free form sculptures. Jane always believed in having her art work touched. After picking out the sculptures, we then decided how we were going to install the twenty pieces into the two room gallery. We decided to put the art pieces on pedestals about ten feet apart so there could be independent travel. You could walk up to a pedestal with your cane and then when you hit a pedestal, that was tall enough so the art work would not fall off, then you could reach out and touch the art piece and try to figure out what the art piece was. We recommended that sighted people would be blindfolded or close their eyes, whichever was more comfortable for them to first see the art work. Then the second time around they could look at the art work with their sight. There was always a tour guide to help people explore the art work. Many people thanked us for giving them the opportunity to tactically explore the art work. They got more out of the art work by touching it first and then seeing it. They said they would have missed most of the beauty of the art work, if they had seen it visually. I gave many tours and at first people were uncomfortable in touching the art work. After they had and when they got comfortable they really enjoyed their experience of the exhibit. When we had the reception for Jane B. Armstrong, she thanked me for giving her art work a fourth dimension.

I also was the Co-Chairman for the 10th Anniversary party for the Lions Gallery for the Senses. I was also the advisor for an exhibit entitled Italian Re-Evolution. This exhibit included the entire Wadsworth Athenaeum in an exhibit of Italian design, culture, and Italian art. This exhibit met one of the goals of the Advisory Committee by having an exhibit that included the entire Athenaeum and not just only the Lions Gallery for the Senses. This art gallery was open from 1972-1991.

,p> While living at the Ymca, I lived across from the South Congregational Church. In 1984, one Saturday morning, the Church bell tolled at 5:00a.m. The bell usually tolled at noon, and 6:00p.m.during weekdays and Saturdays. On Sundays, the bell tolled at 9:40a.m., 1:00p.m., and at 6:00p.m. Later that morning, I called the Church and let them know about this situation. They asked me, if I did not mind, to let them know when the bell was not tolling at the proper hour since I lived closest than any other member of the Church. I said that I would.

In 1990, one morning when I was going to work, I was not able to cross the street from the YMCA to South congregational Church. My dog guide, Digum, let me know that we could not step up on to the curb. We walked down the side of the shoulder of the road until Digum let me know that we could walk on the sidewalk. Later that day, I called and talked with the minister, Mary Klaaren. I told her about the situation and asked if this was going to be a short term or a long term project and she then asked me how you will get home since you always cross at that corner. I told Mary, Thank you for your concern but I am able to cross at the other end of the block near the hospital. I told her that I did not mind walking on the shoulder of Crescent Street in the morning, but there would be no way that I could walk on the shoulder of the road in the afternoon, the way that the traffic is on Crescent Street in the afternoon. She then told me that she was glad that I had another way to get home. She then told me about the Steeple Project that the Church was involved with. Underneath the steeple had rotted away and the steeple could have fallen. There was an engineering firm that would renovate the steeple. They said that the steeple should have fallen but by the grace of God it did not fall. Mary then told me about the workings of the Steeple project and updated me on the progress when she saw me in the Hospital Cafeteria when she would get her coffee after making visitations. She told me that they would be re-gold plating the weather vane and would let me know when they were doing that part of the project and would invite me to church when it was going to be done. From time to time, Mary would invite me to join them at church and then the Sunday came when they were gold plating the weather vane. I went to the church service and the spirit spoke to me and let me know that I was where I belonged. After church, I met friends from the hospital and Y members that worshipped there. We then had a Rededication Service for the Steeple. I became a member of the Church.

During my years at Church I have served on the Board of Outreach, Board of Education, Head usher, Secretary for the Church Counsel. I presently am a Member-at-Large for the Church Counsel and play in the Handbell Choir. The director tells me which measure and which beat of the measure that I come in on. I then memorize this and I am the only member of the handbell choir that has their music memorized, everyone else has their music in front of them.

When I moved into Middletown, July 28, 1974, I moved into the Northern Middlesex YMCA. My mother saw what I was moving into and would have liked to take me back home to where I was comfortable. She knew that she could not do this because I had a job in the morning and this would also have taken back the independence that our parents had asked us to be as independent as we could be since we were declared blind. I lived at the YMCA for twenty years. One Saturday afternoon, I was out with my friend Ken Humphrey. He asked me if I were happy and comfortable living at the YMCA. I said I answered that I was not really comfortable there anymore. I had money and other personal things stolen while living at the YMCA. There were no longer any long term residents and I was just living there because I did not know what my options were. Ken suggested that I ask our friend Phil Cacciola what would be available. Phil was the Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator. I called and spoke with him. He said he would look into that the situation me and told me about South Green Apartments on Church Street. Phil got an application for me. My sister, Joy, helped me fill it out, and then waited to have an interview when an apartment was available here. I saw the apartment and decided that I would move there. Veteran’s Day, November 11, Ken, Kathy, and Joy helped me move. After moving into the apartment, I took some time off to become oriented to the area. I knew Main Street but did not know my way from Church Street. I learned how to orient myself with the help of Ken Humphrey.

One day Kathy told me that at East Hampton Middle School, in East Hampton, Connecticut, the students in the science class were learning about the eyes and ears. They had demonstrated walking in the hallways blindfolded, eating a simple meal in the cafeteria blindfolded, it was a hamburger and fries, not anything complicated like peas or corn. I told Kathy that I would be willing to talk to the students about my life and answer questions. Kathy, a Social Studies teacher, talked to the Science teachers, Joyce Weybright and Lucinda Harte. They invited me to speak to their classes. On that day Kathy drove me to the school, I talked to the classes, the teachers bought me lunch, and then at the end of the day, after speaking to at least 150 students for 5 classes, the teachers gave me a goodie basket thanking me for giving up my day for them and the students. I receive many thank you notes from the students. I was then asked to consider being a part of the school curriculum and speaking to the students each year when they study the eyes and ears. In 2000, I was invited to attend one of the Teachers Workshop Days at the beginning of the school year. I was invited to receive the East Hampton Board of Education Friends of Education Award.

During the holidays in 1992, Joy asked me to consider looking at another way to do my shopping. I am able to have most all of my household products sent to me and rarely have to go the store. When I do have to go to the store, I go with other people and they help me get what I need. Other times when I go by myself, I will go to the counter in front of the store and let the store clerk know what I need and then they will get the items for me.

I am a blood donor of 139 units, 17 ¾ gallons of blood.

I am a Governing member of the Northern Middlesex YMCA. In 1992, I became a member of Middletown’s Mayoral Committee concerning People with Disabilities. In 2004, I became Chairman of the committee. During the 1980’s I also served in Middletown’s city government by serving on Middletown’s conservation committee, and served on the Democratic Town committee. I am a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose Chapter 1547. I enjoy all sport especially the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, New England Patriots, golf, 50’s and 60’s music, country music, and puttering with my computer with the adaptive equipment, reading through Open Book and the scanner on my computer.

In 2003, I helped work at a Lions eye Health program Screening. During the screening, I spoke with the ophthalmologist, Dr. Daniel Chin. After we were introduced, I asked him whether I would need an eye examination. I explained to him that I had not had one in over 30 years. I did not think that I needed one so I haven't had any with the RP. Dr. Chin told me that very definitely that I should have an eye exam and that there may be glaucoma or other eye conditions that would need to be looked at. He told me that people with RP are prone to cataracts. He told me to call his office on Monday to set up an appointment for an eye examination. I called that Monday and Dr. Chin told me that I had cataracts in both eyes. He said we will keep an eye on the situation and see me again in a year. In 2004, I went for a follow-up eye examination. Dr. Chin said the cataracts had gotten worse. He then recommended having the cataracts removed. He said by removing the cataracts I should have better light perception and maybe, but with no guarantees I might see shadows. I had the cataracts removed. The cataracts were very dense in both eyes. He removed the cataract in the right eye first, since most ophthalmologists work right to left. A few days later, I was sitting in my living room and then all of a sudden everything lit up brighter than it had been before. Then he removed the cataract in the left eye. It was denser and he had to open up further and put in sutures. Some of the sutures irritated my eye and he removed them. There are some sutures further in the back of the eye that are still there. They have not dissolved totally. Dr. Chin is seeing me once a year regularly. The light perception became brighter with the removal of both cataracts. Seeing shadows did not happen but that is fine. Dr. Chin is very pleased how both surgeries have turned out. When he dilates my eyes he says he can see the scarring on my retinas from the retinitis pigmentosa. We are both pleased with the results and are glad that the cataracts were removed. The only other health situation that I have was diagnosed in 1991. I was working and a board fell on top of me when the darkroom door closed and the board moved. I had a gash on my forehead that was sutured. When going to Health Services after filling out the incident forms, the Health Service nurse noticed that my blood pressure was high. We monitored this and saw a Doctor. With medication, my blood pressure is fine. I have annual physicals and Dr. Fales was pleased with my last physical.

I have thanked my parents many times for what they did for us. My parents were ahead of their time. They were ridiculed from time to time by people in the Winsted community for that they did for us. My parents knew that they would not always be around for us and we would have to learn to do what we needed to do to survive in this world. There was no Americans with Disabilities Act or a support group like this great group at that time. I feel that I have done what our parents asked us to do at that family meeting. I have lived as much of a normal life as possible, become as independent as I am able. I am an interdependent person. Independent when I can be but when I need to, I ask for the help that I need. I do my best at all times and I never used my blindness as an excuse. My parents went with what they had in their hearts and helped us when we needed it.