Anita’s Book

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“You are legally blind.”

Anita was convinced that life was over, but God wasn’t finished with her story. She couldn’t see it then, but God had a good plan to bring hope and a future.

Hard things happen in this life. Still, there is hope beyond hurt; there is life beyond loss. Anita’s journey through blindness uncovered several timeless truths:

Everybody has something.

Grief is a process, not a one-and-done deal.

Chronic disease doesn’t have to be crippling.

Love triumphs over tragedy.

Beauty can come from brokenness.

It took me a while to work my way through my TBR stack to get to Anita Peden Sherer’s Rough Places Smooth: Moments in A Journey Through Blindness (2022). Anita takes us through her entire journey, from the “Hmm, something isn’t right” to receiving a diagnosis of retinal pigmentosa to “I need to retire from nursing” and even further into her work now.
A beautiful testament to faith, it is a powerful book on many levels. Anita’s frank descriptions of the highs and lows of learning to live with low vision brings the reader right into her life. Into how the disease, RP, affected herself and her family. How she maintains her independence. And all the while, like the seasoned nurse she is, she teaches about the disease process and shares how she adapted and continues to live an active life.
Her writing style is crisp, but incredibly personal. Writing about the disease process, Anita keeps all the medical jargon at bay with words a layman can understand. We feel her pain as she contemplates not being able to see her son’s face as he gets older and later as she faces other challenges. It is truly inspiring.

SHERRY COMSTOCK

I was privileged to be an early reader for Anita Sherer’s informative and deeply personal book about her struggle with retinitus pigmentosa. In Rough Places Smooth: Moments in a Journey through Blindess , Anita tells her story of a devastating diagnosis when she was a young woman, committed to her marriage, her young son and a challenging and satisfying career as a cardiac nurse. Given Anita’s background in medicine and her excellent writing skills, we learn fascinating information about the science behind vision loss to this disease. The heart of the story, however, is the honest manner in which Anita shares her anguish and triumph as she faces the changes she must make as her vision diminishes. Her family, friends, and colleagues are critical parts of her success. It is, though, her faith in God and spiritual practices that open her to Grace that shine through her book. I would recommend this to anyone struggling with hardship in their lives, not solely those with diminishing eyesight. We all have something to learn from Rough Places Smooth: Moments in a Journey through Blindness. 

CAROLYN STUART

Anita Sherer’s book, Rough Places Smooth: Moments in a Journey through Blindness is a heartwarming account of the day-to-day experiences of a young mother as her initial realization of slight changes in what she can see leads her to discovering the diagnosis of a devastating disease that robs her of her vision little by little. Anita offers her hand of friendship to readers as she shares the journey she traveled through the loss of her independence. She gives us a glimpse into the agonizing decisions she must make about giving up driving and what to do about her work as a nurse, which is not just a job to her, but a calling. All of Anita’s life is affected by this cruel disease – her self-confidence, her marriage, her parenting, her work, her friendships. Even her faith is shaken. Laugh and cry with Anita as she opens the door to her very personal journey. And finally, celebrate with her as, in her words, she found “hope beyond hurt and life beyond loss.”

BECKY SCARLETT

This book was one of the most inspirational books I have ever read! As someone who was diagnosed with RP as a child, I was amazed at how eloquently the author shared the journey of being diagnosed and living with this disease. Rough Places Smooth goes beyond a diagnosis with an unsettling future – Anita offers a whole new perspective on coping with life’s challenges. Whether your struggle is temporary or seems more permanent, this book focuses on the importance of faith and hope throughout the journey. There is so much inspiration within the pages of this book that I apply to my daily life. Perhaps there will never be a cure for RP in my lifetime, but I know reading this hi book was an important part of my journey! It is a MUST READ!

DEBBIE NIEMER

This is an inspirational story of the author’s journey into blindness while relying on her faith, perseverance, family, and friends. Her story is well worth reading.

JOHN SPURRIER

Outstanding. I couldn’t put this down. A must read. I bought it for a few friends who agreed. It’s not only about eyes but life.

PAM LEBLANC

I loved the book, Rough Places Smooth by Anita Peden Sherer. She inspired me to do more with my life. She has overcome such a frightening disease, causing her to lose her vision. Her story is so relatable to women in this day and time. She shares her struggles with work decisions, child care, and transportation issues, just to name a few. The fact that she has grown spiritually through this loss is a wake up call to those of us who still possess our vision. Her joy, gratitude and grace shine through on each page. I use Anita and her book as a role model for how to approach each day as a gift from God. Thank you Anita.

LUCY SACONN

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