Assunta Fogliaro

Assunta Fogliaro talks Rock climbing and how she lost her sight.

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Episode Transcript

S1 (00:18):
On Vision Australia Radio. This is Vision Xtra with Peter Greco.

S2 (00:25):
Let's meet Asuka Fujiwara, who's recently been named the Victorian
Para Sports uh of the year award in the Masters category.
Welcome and thank you for your time.

S3 (00:36):
Thank you so much, Peter, and congratulations. Thank you. It was, um, uh,
no pun intended, but it's something I didn't see coming.

S2 (00:44):
Ah. Well done. Now, uh, no pun intended by me,
but you kind of fell into this sport.

S3 (00:49):
I absolutely did. I did a couple of years ago,
I received an email, uh, about a come and try
day for adaptive rock climbing. And, uh, I've only been
totally blind now for four years. Lost all of my
eyesight in my late 30s. Uh, so I didn't really
sort of understand that I could get back into sports,
to be honest. So I thought, oh, gee, rock climbing. Yeah,

(01:11):
it sounds okay. It sounds quite safe in a harness,
you know. Tactile wall. Yeah. Let's give it a go.
So I did, and I've been in love with it
ever since.

S2 (01:21):
When did you find out or when did you kind
of realize that I'm pretty good at this?

S3 (01:25):
Truthfully, uh, I sort of, uh. What what they do
is obviously allow you to enjoy the rock climbing experience.
And I had what's called, uh, like a little buddy
climbing next to me. Someone that was, uh, fully sighted, uh,
sort of like a guide. Yeah. So I got to
the top and I thought, oh, wow. Gee, this is brilliant.
And I got down to the bottom, and it was

(01:47):
one of the officials that said to me, she said, oh, wow.
She said, how long have you been climbing for? And
I said, oh, 15 minutes. She said, no, like ever.
I said 15 minutes. And she said, gee, she said, um,
you might have a bit of potential in you. And
that's where my journey started.

S2 (02:02):
What about beforehand? You talked about your sight loss. We'll
chat about that in a bit more detail in a second.
But in your younger days, um, now that you're a
masters athlete, in your younger days, did you, uh, do much, sport?

S3 (02:15):
I'm gonna. I'm gonna let the secret out of the bag.
The term masters doesn't refer to my ability. The term
masters refers to my age bracket, apparently above 35 years
in age. Eight in age in sports is old. So
Masters is hobbies.

S2 (02:31):
I'm not.

S3 (02:32):
So is that defining my age?

S2 (02:34):
We're not going to have any ageism on this program. Yeah,
but but what about in your in your younger days
before you were 35. Did you do work for.

S3 (02:42):
Yeah, I was a big, um, soccer fan. We play
soccer through high school. Continued that after high school, predominantly, uh,
indoor soccer. So look, I've always loved, uh, sort of moving. Uh,
I've always been a big gardener, um, you know, shovel
and digging out things that my dad says I shouldn't.

S2 (02:59):
Uh.

S3 (03:00):
So, look, I've always I've always been one to enjoy
physically moving. When I lost my eyesight, uh, at 37,
it was a big shock to the system because, uh,
I stopped moving. I stopped moving, and I ended up
showering multiple times in the day just to stay warm.
And then that sort of obviously the thoughts kept going.

(03:21):
I need to be I need to maintain my physical strength, uh,
because it's it's mandatory. It's, you know, and and more
so for the fact that, you know, you've got one
hand holding a cane. So you really only free up
in one arm. So I got in touch with a physiologist,
and I've been working with my physiologist for about the
past five years, who we started with the basics of balance.

(03:43):
My balance was absolutely horrible. So we started with balance basics. And, um,
now he's got me lifting, uh, some pretty heavy weights
in the gym.

S2 (03:51):
Do you think the balance thing might have been due
to the fact that you lost your sight, sort of,
as an adult? I mean, I guess you were born
with it. You kind of adjust as you get older, but,
you know, when it sort of sprung on you at
a sort of middle age, that's a terrible thing to
say at a young adult age. It's a bit a
bit different.

S3 (04:08):
Yeah. Most definitely. And that was probably physically. That was
probably one of the biggest factors. I noticed that I
was very off balance. So and that that did sort
of instill a little bit of fear in me as well.
You know, thinking this is this is now a falls risk. So, um,
and that with a really good physiologist, uh, he had
worked with people with vision impairment and he knew exactly

(04:31):
what was going on from the start. So I was
in good hands. I still am in good hands. And
I have much appreciation for that physiologist because like I said, that, uh, pre, uh,
strength and balance work has given me a really big advantage,
you know, starting rock climbing, you know, run 40.

S2 (04:49):
It gives you a bit about your sight loss. I
know I spoke to you beforehand. You happy to share
a bit of that story with us. What what kind
of happened to you?

S4 (04:56):
Yeah. Yeah, sure. So, look, um, I.

S3 (04:59):
Have what I like to call somewhat of a regular youth.
I grew up in a typical Italian family. You know,
I pursued a university degree, uh, got married at 22,
and I thought that was going to start the next
blissful chapter of my life. You know, I was very
wrong about that. Um, you know, at 27, I had
my first and only child, Chloe. They said to me,

(05:20):
I held her in my arms after I had her,
and they said to me, your fuzzy eyesight is due
to eye tumors that you've gone through your pregnancy. And
they said to me, they said, one day you risk
losing all of your eyesight. And you know, of course,
my my response to that was, no, I'm not going
to lose my eyesight. Who loses their eyesight? I don't
know anybody that's got a disability or that's lost their eyesight.
You know, five years later, at 32, you know, I

(05:42):
held my five year old daughter in my arms again and, um,
got the really, uh, horrendous news that, you know, they
said to me, they said your eye tumors has got
absolutely nothing to do with your daughter's inoperable brain tumour.
It's just a, you know, very, very much so. Bad luck.
You know, unfortunately, they were right. In both instances, I

(06:05):
lost my eyesight and my five year old daughter, so.

S5 (06:07):
I'm sorry to hear that.

S4 (06:09):
Yeah.

S3 (06:09):
So the health issues then extended at 37. Um, I
faced my first kidney surgery, so I had a partial
kidney nephrectomy. And then last year that came back. So
I've had a full kidney nephrectomy. So, you know, and
upon the first kidney surgery at 37 is when my
eyesight packed up. Totally. I went into surgery with partial

(06:31):
with low vision. Uh, and I came out totally blind.
So it's been a bit of a tough, tough road.
You know, unfortunately, in life, uh, life doesn't distribute trauma equally. But, uh,
you've just got to do the best with what you've got.

S2 (06:46):
Was that a coincidence that that's when you lost your sight?
Sort of. Before and after surgery?

S6 (06:50):
Look, they're not entirely sure.

S3 (06:52):
And, um, I didn't really seek those answers, because whatever
it is, it is, uh, it wasn't going to restore
my eyesight by any sense. Yeah. So, look, not not
entirely sure.

S2 (07:03):
So you have one kidney, is that right?

S4 (07:05):
I do at the moment.

S3 (07:05):
Yes, yes. Look, I've got Peter. I've got a hereditary condition. Uh,
it's called DHL Von Hippel-lindau, and it just makes me
prone to tumor growth. And that's obviously how it started. Um,
with all the new cell development things through the pregnancy, uh,
they've started in the eyes and they've just continued ever since.

S2 (07:24):
Wow. That's amazing, isn't it? Like there's something so beautiful
can also end up in something so tragic. It boggles
the mind, doesn't it? I guess, you know, without harping.
I guess sometimes you do wonder why. And in your case,
why me?

S4 (07:38):
Yeah. Look.

S3 (07:39):
And and also you wonder, you know, I'm doing all
the right things. I was aware of my genetic condition, uh,
is genetic. I was aware of that condition prior to
starting a family. So we actually did, like, pre genetic
diagnostics to ensure that I carried a child without that gene.
So that's why it was so hard hitting when they

(08:01):
said your genetic condition has got absolutely nothing to do
with your daughter's brain cancer. And I thought oh gosh
I've done all the right protocols. Why is this still
Why has this happened? But I guess, like I said,
it's just one of those things in life you're never
going to get the answer to. If you can, you
can dwell and put all your energy to it, but
you're never going to get the answer.

S2 (08:21):
Senator, that's a very powerful story, and thank you for
sharing it with us. Just getting back to the rock climbing.
What do you get out of it? I mean, apart from,
pardon the pun again, getting high. A lot of puns
in this interview. Do I blame you for all of them?

S3 (08:33):
Yeah. Look, Peter, I was always one for humor. Uh,
I just feel that sometimes laughing, you know, just makes
the days easier. So, yeah, I do throw a few
of those around. But, yeah. Look, it it has exposed
me to a community of just so many fantastic and

(08:56):
correct supports. You know, everything from the organizations in the
institutes that contribute towards adaptive sports and inclusivity to, um,
and I think he's, uh, quite well known in the
sports domain with the vision impaired uh, sector. Uh. Jason. Jason.

S2 (09:16):
Never heard of him. Never heard.

S7 (09:17):
Of him? Oh, sure you have.

S2 (09:19):
I can't stay still. Jason. What are you talking about?

S3 (09:22):
Yes, we absolutely are. So, you know, I've gone to
this come and try date. I thought it was just
a hobby, so I just used to go to my
local climbing gym with a support worker because, um, you know,
and another barrier. Legally, I'm not allowed in that sports gym, uh,
just for safety reasons alone. So I don't have to
be accompanied by a support worker. So, Jason, sort of, uh,

(09:42):
you know, come on. You've got to come to state nationals.
Come on. You've got to come to, uh, Victorian nationals.
And I've gone, hey, this is just a hobby. I
don't think there's enough. I don't think I'm enough. And
of course, it's it's that, you know, concept. I don't
think I'm enough. That is probably the barrier to, you know, progression.
I feel so, you know, Jason's lured me into Victorian

(10:03):
state titles, and, um, admittedly, apparently Australia has no other
blind female climbers. So that was a nice little wing.
That was default. Um, I think.

S7 (10:14):
That that flight.

S2 (10:15):
Down in front.

S7 (10:15):
Of that plate there get you out. That's all that matters.
You were there. Sorry.

S3 (10:19):
Then it was a scramble. Then two weeks later, it
was nationals in Sydney. And it was an absolute scramble
because truthfully, I had never really travelled independently on my own.
You know, I've always got security blanket of reaching out
to one of my sisters. And apparently you needed a coach. Yes.
So it was a bit of a scramble. I reached
out on Facebook to my local community saying, uh, this

(10:42):
is a very expensive trip, being in the sense that
obviously you've got to cover your flights, your accommodation. And
for someone like me, that's multiplied by three, you know. Um,
so when two nationals and it's just been a phenomenal
experience since I've met, again, so many organizations that I,
that I had no idea existed. You know, volunteers. The

(11:03):
volunteer from I Come and Try day, uh, was a
girl that lived local, uh, Michelle and she actually teed
up with me after the coming Friday in between that
space of actually finding a climbing coach. So, uh, yeah,
now we fast forward to today. Uh, in two months,
we've got the next nationals coming up, and this is

(11:25):
what I need to do to maintain my spot on
the Australian para rockclimbing team.

S2 (11:29):
How hard you've climbed.

S3 (11:30):
Oh, Peter, it was hilarious. The first time they told
me I got to the top, obviously. So paint the picture.
You've climbed a wall, harnessed and you're at the top.
And I said to the lady, uh, my little buddy
next to me said, oh, just for concept. I said,
how high up am I? What what's what, what can
you see? And she said, oh, love, she said, you're about.
She said about 14 or 16m above the ground. And
I said, oh I said, that's not a good picture.

(11:52):
I said, how many stories? Like a one story, a
two story.

S2 (11:55):
Good question.

S3 (11:56):
And she said to me, she says, oh, I love.
She said, you're about four stories up. And I clenched
onto those rocks like a cat on the top of
a fence. I've gone. What? So, you know, it's, um,
it's a bit of a giggle because look, as I
was getting older in age, I was starting to become
fearful of heights.

S7 (12:14):
Mhm.

S3 (12:15):
Uh, but now that's, that's not on the cards because
I just can't see how I am. So I just
try not to think about it and, um, just climb.

S2 (12:22):
Fantastic. And I think there's actually, uh. Well there is
international opportunities out there.

S3 (12:26):
Yeah. There are. Look where there's, um, I think, uh,
I think maybe 3 or 4 out of the Australian
team are in Korea at the moment. Or next weekend, possibly.
They hold maybe 3 or 4 international competitions throughout the year,
but only, uh, podium uh athletes are selected from the squad.

(12:46):
So we're a squad of 12 and I think maybe
3 or 4 have have been selected to go to that.
So I've still got a bit of a way to climb.
You know, I'm told that, uh, the things like the
tendons in your fingers need years to develop. So, uh,
I'm excited. I'm sticking to a compass of consistency, uh,
you know, fueled by the little wins. So I've got

(13:09):
a I've got a fair way to go. But in context, um, of,
you know, the capacity of other climbers, uh, I'm pretty
well equipped.

S2 (13:18):
Well, you know, they talk about the amount of time
you need to be doing a sport to get good
at it. You know, the old 10,000 hours. Well, I mean,
you're you're just a baby as far as this goes,
so you're not the improvement left in you.

S3 (13:28):
Yeah. Look, I kicked myself, Peter. Part of me kicks myself.
But again, uh, you can't dwell on it too much.
These are things that you just need to learn. Learn
and and grow from it. I kick myself that it
took me so long to transition to blindness. You know,
it was a very hard thing for me personally to
wrap my head around. But now I look back and think,

(13:49):
oh my gosh, I used to walk around with, you know,
a little magnifying glass in my pocket, and that's all
I used to do. But now these days, you know,
you've got voiceover, you've got, you know, I'm on Jaws,
the screen reader. I'm using technology the way I should
have when I had low vision. And I'm doing now more.
Now is a blind person using the correct, you know,

(14:12):
technology and and methods of of living a fulfilling life.
I'm doing more now as a blind person than what
I did when I had sight low vision.

S2 (14:22):
It's a lovely note to end on. Congratulations on all
you've achieved so far. Keep climbing the ladder of success
and your rocks. It's really great to talk to you.
And a shout out to Jason. He put you and
I in touch and I'm so glad. Good night. I
hope we can make you speak again in the future.

S3 (14:37):
Sounds fantastic. Thanks for the opportunity.

S2 (14:39):
It's Gary. He's the, um. Well, the master's winner of the, uh,
passport award for the Disabled Sports Association in Victoria. A
very worthy winner for the sport of rock climbing.

S1 (14:52):
Thank you for listening to Vision Xtra with Peter Greco.
You can find this interview on the Focal Point podcast.
This show was produced in the Adelaide studios of Vision
Australia Radio.