Help Richard Hear: A Journey of Resilience

Help Me Hear Again: A Journey from Sighted to Sightless — and Now to Sound

“You may not know me—but after reading this, maybe you will.”

My name is Richard Bennett, and I’ve lived an extraordinary journey that began on November 25, 2000—a night that changed my life forever.

That night, I was in a nearly fatal car wreck on Antioch Church Road in Cook County, Georgia. Since then, I’ve lived my life as a blind citizen of Adel, GA. This journey has taught me more than I could have imagined—not just about myself, but about faith, resilience, and the power of community.

Why I’m Asking for Help

I’ll be honest with you: I hate asking for help. But sometimes, showing humility is part of the journey. As someone once told me, “Allow others to be a blessing.”

Today, I’m reaching out because I need hearing aids. After 25 years of adapting to blindness, my hearing has now declined as well. Unfortunately, insurance won’t cover the full cost, and I’m on a fixed disability income. These hearing aids will allow me to communicate more clearly, continue podcasting, attend church, and maintain my independence.

If you feel led to help, any donation makes a difference. And if you can’t give, I’d be honored if you’d simply share this story.

The Wreck That Changed Everything

In 2000, I was 17 years old, a senior at Cook High School. That night, my friends and I had just returned from Valdosta and were hanging out, looking at the stars. I remember thinking, “How sad it would be to never see them again.”

That was the last time I ever saw them.

On the way home, a \$0.19 lighter fell to the floor of the car. I reached down to grab it, and in doing so, the car hit a pothole, blew a tire, and spun out of control. It slammed into a bridge rail, and I was thrown from the vehicle. My skull was crushed, my lungs collapsed, and I lost my eyesight permanently.

They say I hit a tree—but I believe God placed ivy there to catch me.

A Glimpse of Heaven

As I lay there, I saw my late Papa, Harvey Lee Bennett, standing at the Pearly Gates. He told me:

“Now, son, you go back… God’s not finished with you yet.”

I was airlifted to Phoebe Putney, then transferred to Scottish Rite in Atlanta. My skull was partially replaced with titanium. I was in a coma, had a tracheostomy, and lost my left eye. My right optic nerve was stretched beyond repair.

But I lived.

Recovery & Rehab

At Scottish Rite, I had to relearn everything—from opening a cracker wrapper to walking again. My body was scarred and stapled from ear to ear. I even accidentally kicked a nurse while proving I still had strength in my legs.

Christmas Day, I was allowed to eat solid food again. The test meal—mustard, ketchup, and orange juice—was the best I’d ever had. It meant I was going home.

️ My Life Today

Since then, I’ve built a new life—blind, but not broken. I host a podcast called Sighted to Sightless, where I share what it’s like to live without sight and answer questions from listeners.

You can listen to Episode 1 here:

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqAVr7TFEb0\&t=2087s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqAVr7TFEb0&t=2087s)

I was also honored to have my story published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles and the Unexplainable.

What Your Gift Will Do

Your donation will help me afford:

Professionally fitted hearing aids

Hearing tests and evaluations at ENT & Allergy of South Georgia

Any follow-up visits or adjustments needed

Transportation or accessibility costs, if necessary

These hearing aids will let me:

Communicate clearly again

Continue producing my podcast

Stay connected with my community and church

Maintain my independence as a blind man

Thank You

If you’ve made it this far, thank you. I’m not asking for pity. I’m asking for a chance to keep telling my story, to continue living life as fully as I can.

If you feel led to give, I thank you with all my heart. And if not, please consider sharing this campaign or lifting me up in prayer.

God’s not finished with me yet.

Maybe He’ll use you to help write the next chapter.

With love and gratitude,

Richard Bennett

Adel, Georgia