An inspiring tale of Dr Amit Patel's struggle with his sight loss, living with a disability and his faith in a guide dog.. It gives an insight into living with sight loss, the difficulties experienced and the intense training involved with Guide Dogs. An inspiring tale. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

This is Amit’s story of how he went from being able to see to going blind overnight. A recently qualified doctor and newly married with everything to live for, he has to start all over again. Learning how to use a cane, navigate a whole new world and eventually he’s matched with a guide dog, the lovely Kika. Fortunately he also has a wonderful wife, Seema and parents to help. He has to be congratulated, he got up, brushed himself down instead of wallowing in misery. A great example of how to get on with life, not the one he’d planned but another just as valid and useful as he campaigns and makes a huge difference for others in the same situation. Shame on the nasty individuals, the ones who tried to take advantage or just simply tried to push him out of the way. Everyone should read this book, if only to make them more compassionate towards their fellow human beings.

I was really interested to read this as my husband is one year into his Guide Dog partnership. I’d already heard of Kika, and of course Amit Patel, through following them on Twitter, but was keen to understand how they’d got to where they were today. Of course, there were many similarities between my husband and Amit, particularly with how the application for a guide dog works. Amit’s condition is different and his level of sight loss is also different to my husband’s, but it was interesting to see how sight loss varies considerably from person to person – there is definitely no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to a visual impairment.

Amit tells us his story, briefly touching on what life was like before he lost his sight working as an A & E doctor. To lose your sight overnight must be one of the scariest things to go through, and Amit pulls no punches in telling us how it was for him. Of course, happier times take over when Kika appears on the scene, and she certainly found her perfect match in Amit Patel. The story continues on with Amit and Kika’s story, through good and bad, and although I’ve seen first hand how amazing guide dogs are, meeting a new dog and what they are capable of doing (albeit through the pages of a book) never ceases to amaze me at how amazing they are!!

Of course, their story also focuses on the campaign to raise more disability awareness for people with sight loss, and the difficulties a person with sight loss faces. My husband has faced the same prejudice and ignorance of people whilst out walking with either his long cane or his guide dog, and I find myself continually biting my tongue for fear of saying something I shouldn’t! Amit’s wife and children also feature in his story, and we get to hear from his wife, Seema with her own chapter showing us that it’s just as difficult for the partner of someone with sight loss. Filled with tender moments which will bring tears to your eyes, and stories which will bring a smile to your face and even the odd chuckle! Amit and Kika’s story is a beautiful, heart-warming story of a perfect match, and I wish them both a long, happy and safe partnership together. Kika – you are a star!

For interest, my husband’s guide dog is called Millie and she has been in our lives for almost a year. Millie is a dual-purpose guide dog and diabetic alert dog, the first to be partnered between Guide Dogs UK and Medical Detection Dogs. She’s a very clever girl who not only guides him, but alerts him when his blood sugars fall and rise. In fact, she’s very much a life changer and life saver!

I recently read on Dr Amit’s twitter page how difficult it was him and Kika to work due to Covid-19. Please, if you see someone with a Guide Dog or a long white cane, give them some room. They aren’t aware of how close they may be to you; guide dogs are not trained to socially distance. It’s very difficult to maintain a 2-metre distance when you have no or limited sight. Please also don’t touch their dogs, it’s not only distracting but increases the risk of catching coronavirus. Thank you!

Kika & Me, How One Guide Dog Changed My Life, Amit Patel

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Non Fiction, Biography and memoirs

Well, most of us know about assistance dogs now, but when I was a kid Guide dogs were quite new, and there was lots of fundraising to train them. They really are a life line for people and in this book we can see just how important they are for visually impaired people.
Kika really did give Amit a new life. I remember a lady mum worked for as a cleaner, her ex policeman husband was blind. This would be mid 60's, he spent all day every day in his bed in their living room. The house was a typical mid terrace, and from what I recall there was no support for him. What an awful life he must have had, they didn't have TV, he couldn't read, there was no such thing as audio books. Once every couple of weeks a friend would take him out for a short walk. Horrendous life, and yet apart from his blindness he was well. Dogs like Kika allow folk to keep their independence.

I have very bad eyesight, rely on some pretty strong lenses, and possibly may lose my sight as I get older. I treasure being able to see, to be able to do what I want, be independent still. I loved reading about Kika, her training, her individualism, her fierce protectiveness for Amit. When he gives examples of times when she refused to move and help that came told him she was right, to move was dangerous, it showed me just how much trust he needed to put in her. To regain his Independence it was necessary, but its not easy.

It was an inspirational read, Amit could so easily have lapsed into depression, as he did in those first days, and that would have ruined not only his life, but his wife and parents too. It must have been so hard to pick life up again – he was so young, but his wife and parents were determined being blind would just become part of his life, not the defining characteristic. I really enjoyed his journey from emergency doctor, to blindness ( not that I enjoyed that bit of course) and how he managed to get out of the depression, how hard he worked, how first the long cane, and then Kika helped him become what he wanted, a functioning, useful part of society, a god husband and son, and ultimately a good father too. All that took so much work, its not an easy journey and I am so in awe of his strength and support from family. May he have a long and happy life ahead of him.

Stars: Five, a fantastic, inspirational read of a real life experience.

Arc via Netgalley and publishers

One of the best books I've read recently, I'll remember it for a long time.

This was a great read. I was totally immersed right from the first page. It had all my favourite book ingredients: Memoir, medical, travel, animals etc.

Amit Patel was an A&E doctor before he suddenly lost his sight. While studying medicine, he had learned he had a progressive eye condition. There were things which could be done: surgery-which turned into many surgeries, and so at first things were looking better for him. Then one day, it’s all changed. It seemed everything as he knew it was over. But gradually, he finds there is so much joy still to look forward to. And there were so many smiles in the book.

This is a condition I'd heard nothing about before. I found the book very interesting. Having suffered a recent eye scare myself; CRVO; where I suddenly lost a lot of vision in one eye, yet could be sorted out with laser treatment and monthly intravitreal injections, I can't imagine how it must be to have no cure, no fix, and to never get your vision back.

A favourite book I remember from years ago is Sheila Hocken's 'Emma and I'. Amit's book has a few elements like that so I really liked it. Such a delight to read. Moving and memorable. Tissues were needed-but for tears of joy. Of course, a real star of the show in the book is the beautiful Kika, as in Amit’s words: 'The Fairy Dog-Mother'.

There are some unbelievable challenges he has to put up with-due to ignorant commuters. Shocking how some people behave. On the other side of the coin: There is quite a lot of help available-and so interesting-I'd no idea about many of these things mentioned.

One of the best books I've read recently, I'll remember it for a long time.