Blind doctor saving lives - Dr Shanea Bailey lost her sight but not her vision

When Shanea Bailey walked across the graduation stage at The University of the West Indies in 2019, she carried with her not just a degree in medicine, but a lifetime of perseverance and faith. Her journey -- one defined by courage, blindness, and belief, stands as proof that no obstacle is too great when purpose lights the way.

Her story began at Glenmuir High School in Clarendon, where as a teenager, she underwent major eye surgery that forced her out of the classroom for almost three months. Determined not to fall behind, she worked closely with her teachers and her twin sister to catch up. In the end, she not only recovered but topped her class.

Her principal, moved by her resilience, handed her a small note with a few simple words.

"Keep defying the odds," it read.

"That was from about 2009 and those were words I kept with me throughout my life," Bailey said.

Now 30 years old, Bailey is a medical doctor who works as a general practitioner. She continues to live by that mantra, 'keep defying the odds'.

Despite being blind since 2022, she has turned what many might see as a limitation into a mission to inspire others.

Born visually impaired, Bailey functioned for years with the help of tested glasses. But glaucoma eventually robbed her of sight entirely. Losing her vision, however, did not dim her drive. Bailey holds a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery Degree from The University of the West Indies.

"There is a lot of reading to be done and a lot of it is done on the computer, so that put a lot of strain on the eyes. I suffered from a lot of eye pain, but a lot of my colleagues didn't know this because I didn't really share it," she said,

"It was difficult for me, but I made it as God carried me through the process," she added.

Bailey did her internship at the Spanish Town Hospital in St Catherine. Her successful completion of the programme paved the way for her to be recognised as a registered physician, ready to further contribute to Jamaica's healthcare system. However, instead of seeking employment in hospitals or at private facilities, Bailey began working as a home-visit doctor.

Though she acknowledges that her disability presents some challenges, she is clear about one thing -- medicine is not just about what one can see.

"A lot of the information that we get is through history, and even when you go to a doctor's office you will see them writing a bag of notes, and from that we are able to come to some diagnosis sometimes -- even before examining a patient," she said.

Her sense of touch and hearing now serve as her strongest diagnostic tools.

"In terms of examinations, I am still able to palpate and I am still able to feel, and I am still able to use the stethoscope and listen," she told THE WEEKEND STAR.

Bailey is the first to admit that being a blind doctor has limitations, but refuses to allow her disability to serve as a barrier to her providing service. She intends to specialise into psychiatry, a branch of medicine that is focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental, emotional and behavioural disorders.

"There are persons who are blind or visually impaired who suffer from depression and mental illnesses, and if I am able to help in that regard, I will. Who better would it come from than somebody who has gone through that experience and is living in the experience?"

Bailey shared her story during a health fair hosted by the Jamaica Society for the Blind in recognition of World Sight Day, observed this year under the theme "Love Your Eyes." The event highlighted the importance of accessible and affordable eye care for all -- a cause that Bailey embodies through her life's work.

Also present was Senator Dr Floyd Morris, who commended Bailey's achievements but noted that persons with disabilities in Jamaica continue to face serious barriers.

"Research data is showing that about 91 per cent of the population with disability is unemployed," he said.

Morris said the disabled community also experiences problems with the healthcare systems. He explained that many blind or visually impaired individuals face long waiting hours at public hospitals and, because of financial constraints, are often unable to access private healthcare.

In addition, he said that the education system lacks the necessary technology to facilitate effective interaction between students with disabilities and their teachers, and many educators are not adequately trained to support learners with visual or other disabilities.