What Do You Do When Your Life Changes Overnight? Finding Hope After Sudden Vision Loss | Laura Bratton

Get a copy of the chapter “Grace: God’s Power to Crush the Impossible” from Thriving in Grace: Unleashing Wellness from a Biblical Perspective at karenadittman.com

Connect with Laura Bratton at laurabratton.com

What do you do when your life changes overnight?
How do you process grief, fear, and uncertainty after a devastating diagnosis?
And how do you find hope when the future you imagined disappears?

In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, Karen Dittman talks with Laura Bratton, who lost her vision suddenly in high school and had to rebuild her life from the ground up.

At the age of nine, Laura was diagnosed with an eye disease and faced the difficult reality that she would become blind. Over the next ten years she experienced the traumatic transition of adjusting to life without sight. She is the author of the book, Harnessing Courage. Laura founded Ubi Global, which is an organization that provides speaking and coaching to empower all people to overcome challenges and obstacles with grit and gratitude.

Laura shares:

• What it felt like to move from denial and grief into acceptance and purpose
• How her faith, family, and community carried her when she couldn’t carry herself
• Why gratitude and grit aren’t clichés—but survival tools
• And what actually helps when you or someone you love receives a life-altering diagnosis

This conversation is for anyone who is asking:

• “Why did this happen to me?”
• “How do I move forward when my old life is gone?”
• “Is it okay to grieve and still have faith?”
• “What does trusting God look like when everything feels broken?”

Laura offers practical, compassionate guidance on:

• Letting yourself feel what you feel without shame
• Learning how to receive support instead of withdrawing
• And discovering that God’s grace doesn’t wait for you to be okay—it meets you right where you are

If you’re facing a difficult diagnosis, a sudden loss, or a major life transition—or walking alongside someone who is—this episode will remind you that your story is not over, and grace is not absent.

00:00 Introduction to Laura's Story

00:59 Laura's Early Diagnosis and Sudden Vision Loss

02:43 Coping with Denial and Grief

05:02 Finding Strength in Support Systems

07:33 Experiencing God's Presence

10:27 The Power of Gratitude

16:01 Advice for Those Facing Difficult Diagnoses

19:06 Laura's Work and Final Thoughts

24:19 Conclusion and Takeaways

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb