The Power of Perspective

As a devoted wife and mother in Jersey City, Danielle Tietjen has built a life filled with love and purpose, with a dynamic career in media that spans over two decades. Her journey is a testament to the strength and resilience of those living with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

In her early 20s, Danielle noticed difficulty seeing in dark environments, leading to a diagnosis of RP at Mass Eye and Ear at the age of 24. Despite the lack of immediate treatment options, Danielle remained hopeful, regularly undergoing testing and staying informed about the research.

Her journey with vision loss has not been without its hurdles. In her mid-30s, cataract surgery provided a temporary reprieve, giving her a "clean windshield" to see through. However, recent complications required lens replacement surgery in both eyes, a painful and prolonged recovery process. Over the years, her peripheral vision has continued to decrease, making every day feel different.

But through all the vision changes, Danielle has remained driven in every aspect of her life. Married for 21 years and a proud mother of two daughters, aged 15 and 18, Danielle is filled with love and determination. A graduate of SUNY Albany, she embarked on a dynamic career in media, starting at ABC Sports, FX, and Ion Media, where she honed her skills in creating compelling video packages.

For over two decades, Danielle grew her career at Food Network and Cooking Channel. She built and led a branded content team as a Creative Director, a role that took her all over the world. In her career, she has excelled in creating content that connects the networks' programming and chefs with advertisers' brands through relatable stories while leading a team of talented individuals to produce branded content. Despite some challenges in her job as her vision loss progressed, Danielle's knack for storytelling always shone through.

Before her career took off, Danielle was actively involved with the Foundation Fighting Blindness, participating in local chapter events and VisionWalks. Now, she is re-engaging with the Foundation, eager to make a difference once again. She feels fortunate to continue having a supportive network, especially her "seeing eye people," who assist her in navigating work environments and daily obstacles.

In November 2023, Danielle began using a white cane, a tool that has significantly enhanced her independence. She was hesitant to use a white cane at first, as it’s an obvious sign to the public that you’re visually impaired. But now she loves the confidence it has given her and uses it as an opportunity to educate others on blindness being a spectrum.

Processing her vision loss has been challenging, especially as it progresses. The past few years have been particularly tough, with job changes and further vision deterioration. But Danielle remains open about her RP, sharing her experiences to raise awareness and educate others. She emphasizes the importance of understanding and perspective, both as a leader and as someone living with a visual impairment.

“One of the best things I’ve learned as a manager and leader is perspective; you just don’t know what someone is going through,” says Danielle. “And for me, it’s taken a while to accept my RP, so I’ve had to learn to be open minded. It’s good to acknowledge others’ feelings and experiences.”

Danielle's biggest hurdle remains the inability to drive, a source of frustration as it limits her independence and her ability to get her daughters to where they need to go. Yet, she remains hopeful and encourages others to be open about their struggles, to accept help, and to share their stories for the benefit of awareness and education.

"A cure would mean so much happiness for me," says Danielle. "Just to be independent again and do things on my own. But for now, I accept help from others, even when I may not think I need it. There are people out there that really do want to help."