Stephen Barker was in his mid-thirties and leading a pretty normal life … until his world was turned upside down when he went blind.

In this inspiring and humorous memoir, Stephen chronicles how, within a relatively short time span, he had to face the fear and the challenges of blindness and the trauma of losing close family members to cancer.

The turning point came when he discovered the Lions Foundation Dog Guides program and was given his “new set of eyes,” a black Labrador named Zulu. With his furry guardian angel, the first of two guide dogs over a period of ten years, he regained his independence and a reason to live. His descriptions of training at the dog guides school and the day-to-day incidents that he faces as a blind person make for at times hilarious and always fascinating and insightful reading.

Stephen’s sense of humour and hope, combined with the kindness shown to him by so many people, help him overcome everything that life throws at him. His path from light into darkness was one of self-discovery as he came to understand that he went blind for a reason.

His journey has brought him to a different form of light, with the conviction that you never really see until you stop seeing.

Now he’s paying it forward — and still making people laugh.