'I want them to see that I never gave up': How Sheldon Guy kept coaching basketball after losing his vision
Forty-seven-year-old Sheldon Guy has experienced hardship in his life – but when the B.C. basketball coach was told he would never regain his vision, he saw no way of coming back.
“Three weeks. Three weeks was the time frame that it took for my eyesight to go from something is happening to no vision at all,” he said.
In November of 2021, he noticed a change in his sight while driving through a tunnel.
“I saw nothing, no vehicles, I didn’t even see the tunnel side… my peripheral was changing so that led me to call my doctor, my optometrist right away.”
Coach Guy painfully recalls the harrowing moment when he learned he wouldn’t see again.
“I walked out and I said, I need to go somewhere right now. Somewhere private… I just let it out. I screamed, I yelled, I swore, I punched things. I got angry… I didn’t understand why this was happening to me. “
Sheldon’s girlfriend Chelsea also remembers the moment in vivid detail.
“Up until that point, I was holding out hope that the diagnosis was going to be something that was going to be fixable, treatable… when the doctor gave the diagnosis, there was just a lot of silence in the room. It was very unsettling and scary and devastating and just so many emotions running through me.”
“I saw nothing, no vehicles, I didn’t even see the tunnel side… my peripheral was changing so that led me to call my doctor, my optometrist right away,” said Sheldon Guy, recalling the moment when he learned he wouldn’t see again.
Following his diagnosis, Sheldon returned to the hospital, completely despondent.
“I went face first into the bed. I don’t know how long I was there for. I’m gonna say an hour, and I was just crying. And I continued just to cry, and I remember there was a wall by my bed and I just curled up and I touched my knees to the wall, and I was just crying. I was in a fetal position and I just… I knew I didn’t wanna live like this… In my world and my thoughts, it was impossible, I can’t pivot from this.”
But endless support from Sheldon’s son Jaidyn and the girls Sheldon coaches encouraged him to keep going.
“And I said to myself, I can't do this, I've gotta pivot, and I gotta figure this out. And so, that's when I went into reactionary mode and put a different hat on.”
“He just knew in his gut that, you know, he needed to go back. He knew that there was a lesson that he would be able to show those girls, you know, to persevere, be determined. You know, don’t give up. Keep going,” says Chelsea.
So Sheldon persevered – he continues to coach the Langley Thunderbirds, now relying on his sense of sound and strong natural instincts instead of his sight. Most important to him is the message he’s leaving behind for his players – a group of girls he says have become like daughters to him.
“I want them to see me at my worst… and I want them to see that I never gave up, and I also want them to know never to give up on themselves or others.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6944496.1719545086!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
A halting Biden tries to confront Trump at debate but stirs Democratic anxiety about his candidacy
A raspy, sometimes halting U.S. President Joe Biden repeatedly sought to confront Donald Trump in their first debate ahead of the November election, as his Republican rival countered Biden’s criticism by leaning into falsehoods about the economy, illegal immigration and his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.
Analysis of the CNN Presidential Debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump
U.S. President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump went head-to-head in the first of two planned presidential debates.
FACT FOCUS: Here's a look at some of the false claims made during Biden and Trump's first debate
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump traded barbs and a variety of false and misleading information as they faced off in their first debate of the 2024 election.
Fines related to neighbour's 443 noise complaints at centre of B.C. dispute
A B.C. condo owner who was fined tens of thousands of dollars over hundreds of noise complaints made by his downstairs neighbour was partially successful in having the penalties overturned.
EXCLUSIVE Canadian lawyers play key role in money laundering, says financial intelligence report
A report by Canada's financial watchdog obtained by the Investigative Journalism Foundation working in collaboration with CTV News looked at Canadian lawyers' potential role in money laundering schemes, including those by organized crime groups like biker gangs and drug cartels.
Legal action coming to recover COVID benefit overpayments
The Canada Revenue Agency says it is ramping up efforts to recover overpayments of pandemic-related benefits.
'Hanging on for her life': Sask. family desperate to bring home sick niece from Philippines
For half a decade, a Saskatoon family has been trying to bring their orphaned niece to Canada, they say now it’s a matter of life or death.
'No additional flights will be cancelled': WestJet avoids strike as feds order binding arbitration
The federal government ordered binding arbitration in the labour dispute between WestJet and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) on Thursday.
Ottawa police warn residents to avoid Facebook Marketplace when looking for a place to rent
Ottawa police are going as far as to tell people to stay away from Facebook Marketplace altogether when looking for a place to rent because of the prevalence of scams.
Local Spotlight
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6943505.1719506855!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
'Hanging on for her life': Sask. family desperate to bring home sick niece from Philippines
For half a decade, a Saskatoon family has been trying to bring their orphaned niece to Canada, they say now it’s a matter of life or death.
'Really disappointed': Painting at Winnipeg Art Gallery found to be a forgery
The Winnipeg Art Gallery- Qaumajuq recently discovered that one piece in its collection is a fake and part of a massive art forgery ring that included more than 1,500 pieces.
Six-year-old Montreal boy triumphs in Canadian math competition
Six-year-old Bruce Arthur Chang is the new grand champion of Canada in the UCMAS math competition, and says he is hoping to make a mark on the international stage.
Halifax icon who wore high heels with pride dies at 86
Harold Brenton Anderson, who wore high heels for decades in Halifax and loved to travel, has died.
This Ottawa 'fat cat' on a weight loss journey has become a TikTok star
An Ottawa cat has morphed into a TikTok star, as he's slimming down from weighing 43 pounds.
'I just really like the sport': Meet the 90-year-old local slo-pitch player still living out his passion
Bill Neald is still living out his passion of playing baseball at the age of 90 in Regina’s Senior Mixed Slo-Pitch League.
Bracebridge, Ont. man who lost his life trying to save another honoured posthumously
A Bracebridge man who died trying to save a distressed swimmer nearly four years ago is being recognized among 18 others for their extraordinary acts of heroism.
'It's a tradition': Titanic model returning to Halifax Public Gardens
For the first time in two years, a model of the RMS Titanic will return to the Halifax Public Gardens, thanks in part to public demand.
Where is Louis Riel? Heritage Minute of Métis leader quietly removed
A decision to quietly remove a decades-old Heritage Minute on Louis Riel has left some in the Métis community scratching their heads, as questions are raised about how Canada's history is portrayed.