Mike Schickerowski went through a long journey to get his driver鈥檚 licence.

The 44-year-old man who lives in Benalto, which is west of Sylvan Lake, Alta., was born with nystagmus and had been legally blind for most of his life.

鈥淏y 11 months old, my mother had identified the problem,鈥� said Schickerowski.

鈥淭he doctors said that it would be very difficult going forward in my life. They said I would never attend public school. I would never play sports. I would never work in the workforce, and I would never drive a car.鈥�

Nystagmus is a vision disorder in which the eyes make repetitive, uncontrolled movements.

Schickerowski proved the doctors wrong on many fronts throughout his life. He attended public school with the help of special accommodations, became a provincial wrestling champion, captained his high school football team, and has worked in the 鈥渃omputer field鈥� most of his adult life.

But, one thing the doctors were right about was that he was unable to drive.

鈥淚t felt like something I was missing out on. My goals for driving changed over the years. When I was young, it was more about growing up 鈥� you sort of move from being a child to an adult and gain your independence,鈥� said Schickerowski.

鈥淏ut at my age now, it鈥檚 felt more like I鈥檝e been missing a connection with my family, my children specifically. I didn鈥檛 have the ability to take them to soccer practice or bring them out to get ice cream. All of that had fallen onto my wife鈥檚 shoulders.鈥�

His children are 15, nine and seven.

Schickerowski signed up for experimental surgery in California to correct his vision in 2018. Shortly after the procedure, his eyes had settled 鈥渟lightly out of place,鈥� so he needed to return to California for a second operation.

After the successful surgeries, Schickerowski got his learner鈥檚 licence and was finally able get behind the wheel, as long as there was a supervisor in the vehicle.

鈥淒riving鈥檚 scary at first. It was hard and I couldn鈥檛 believe how much you need to be aware of when driving,鈥� he said.

鈥淚 was certainly a nervous wreck at first. But I pushed myself pretty hard 鈥� I drove 鈥� as frequently as possible. Every day, I pushed myself. It took about three or fours months to be completely comfortable.鈥�

Schickerowski was set to do his road test to get his full licence in April, but COVID-19 delayed his plans. He was finally able to take his road test earlier this month and passed on the first try.

鈥淚 can take my kids fishing. I can take them to get ice cream. Even just to go out and pick up parts for something around the house or garage. I鈥檓 able to just do that on my own now when I need it, when I want to. It鈥檚 an absolutely incredible feeling.鈥�

Schickerowski says is 鈥渋t鈥檚 important for people to realize we shouldn鈥檛 give up on our dreams.鈥�

sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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