Welcome to DebVellines.com
FAITH WRITER & HOPE GIVER

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.” ~ 1 Peter 5:7

Welcome to a place of hope and encouragement. Deb Vellines is dedicated to uplifting those facing vision loss and life’s unexpected challenges. Inspired by her mother Millie’s remarkable journey with macular degeneration and her own battle with a rare brain tumor, Deb shares wisdom through heartfelt blogs and faith-filled devotions. She is here to serve you in three ways—by offering practical advice, spiritual growth, and stories of resilience. Whatever your journey, you’ll find faith and purpose here.

Millie
Mother and Inspiration

Yes, I Can

"My mother adjusted to her blindness so well that her sight-loss support group asked her to visit new members who needed help. Eventually, we wrote a pamphlet with information for those with low vision ... An editor suggested that I write... read more"

Explore below for Deb Vellines' latest writing on macular degeneration, reflections on her journey with an acoustic neuroma, and faith-filled devotions to inspire your spiritual growth.

Yes I Can Blog

With the Yes I Can blog, readers will find practical information about macular degeneration. Deb’s mother, Millie, was blind in both eyes, yet she lived independently and enjoyed life. How she managed this until her passing at age 92 is the focus of the blog.

Recent Post

#83 Update on Eye Injections

  Under Posts #18 and #19, I talk about eye injections. If you haven’t read these posts, you might want to before reading this one. Eye injections sound painful and scary, but the eye is numbed first (with drops), so the needle doesn’t hurt. A small clip holds the eyelid open so you don’t have to worry about blinking. The injections can be given every month or every few months, depending on your condition. As time goes on, the frequency usually decreases. The injections work to...read more
Recent Post

#82 Navigating Airports

Readers: I wish you a wonderful Easter. He is risen!!! Isn’t it wonderful to realize we will have new bodies in heaven with good vision? No more eye doctor appointments: no more fuzzy partial vision or complete blindness.   Are you thinking about an airplane ride this summer? If flying solo, do you want a few tips to help? Even if you are flying with someone. These tips can help. Be sure to have your cane with you. This tells everyone you might need assistance. Even if you have no trouble walking,...read more
Recent Post

#81 Associations and Organizations

Readers – If you don’t receive email notices when I have a new blog, I invite you to sign up. The signup is under the list of blogs. I have changed my way of notifying you of new posts. So, you might need to sign up again if you want to be notified. ** I will never share your email address. Free downloadable Amsler Chart with directions when you sign up to my email list.  That way you don’t have to keep checking the website to see if a new blog is there. Do you know what an Amsler chart is? If not,...read more

A New Me Blog

With the A New Me blog, Deb shares her journey with an acoustic neuroma, a rare benign brain tumor. A diagnosis of a major illness presents challenges and brings change, but change can bring new possibilities. No matter the diagnosis, the steps she shares can be helpful.
Recent Post

# 77 – 21 Stress Busters

What causes stress with an acoustic neuroma? Pretreatment is the question – do I need treatment?  If so, what kind and where? Pre and post-treatment, we have the stress – is it growing? Hearing issues. Balance issues. Facial issues. All this is in relation to our diagnosis. The stress of daily living can be caused by a zillion different things. No matter the cause, how do we handle it? Do we know we are feeling stress? How do we know we aren’t handling it in a positive way? Here are some...read more
Recent Post

# 76 Claustrophobia

I went to the Acoustic Neuroma group on Facebook to see what they were talking about today. Someone was wondering how to deal with claustrophobia during the MRIs and with radiation when you have a mask that is bolted down. This is one of my problems, so I replied with my solutions. They may not work for everyone, but they got me thru the MRIs and then the Cyberknife treatment with a mask bolted to the table. I didn’t see much difference between open and closed MRI machines. When I heard the pictures are better...read more
Recent Post

#75 Facial Issues

Readers: Do you have a suggestion for a topic? Do you want more information on a topic I have already covered? I’m looking for ideas. Before my cyberknife radiation, I had one facial symptom. From time to time I felt like an ant was walking across my right cheekbone. I would swipe my cheek, again and again. After about the umpteenth time, when swiping didn’t help, I looked in the mirror. No ant. I was always thankful the sensation didn’t last even a minute. Twitches, spasms, and numbness are strange...read more

Devotions

With the Devotions, Deb offers guidance for spiritual growth. These devotions provide insights on expressing gratitude each day, practicing forgiveness, understanding that salvation is a gift rather than earned, and learning to trust.

Ebenezer-The Upper Room

Read 1 Samuel 7:8 – 12 Then Samuel took a stone . . . and named it Ebenezer, for he said, "Thus far the Lord has helped us." -1 Samuel 7:12 (NRSV) When I sang the words "Here I raise mine Ebenezer hither by Thy help I’m come . . . ", * I had no idea what Ebenezer meant. Then I read First Samuel and learned Ebenezer refers to a stone memorial that Samuel built to remind the people how much God had helped them. The word itself means Stone of Help. I recognize the Lord’s daily...read more

True Identity - The Secret Place

Romans 8:14-17 THOUGHT FOR TODAY: For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” - Romans 8:15 (NKJV) Robbery is something that happens to other people, not to me—until someone took my wallet. Talk about feeling violated, vulnerable, helpless, mad, and angry. I cried from the combination of all those ugly feelings—like someone had hit me in the gut with a two by four. How could this happen?  I...read more

Cast Out Fear - The Upper Room

Read Psalm 40:1-5 Moses said to Joshua, “It is the Lord Who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”  -Deuteronomy 31:8 (NRSV) On the news I saw that the storm damage was horrific. Reporters interviewed residents who were not yet allowed to return home to see what damage their homes might have suffered. Victims wondered: Is my house still standing? How much damage? How do I face the future? Fear of the future can include so many...read more