My father has retinitis pigmentosa. As a result, he has tunnel vision and it's difficult for him to see at all at night. It's a genetic condition that is tough for the many people around the world who suffer from it. Yet, in general, it seems like the average person has not even heard of retinitis pigmentosa. I feel like the awareness of retinitis pigmentosa needs to be heightened. So, of course, we need either a high-profile celebrity to get retinitis pigmentosa or have a movie about the ailment. Pop culture is where it's at.
Well, I should correct that. Retinitis pigmentosa was covered to an extent in one piece of pop culture and that was the critically acclaimed Baywatch. On the show, the character of John D. Cort returns (after leaving the show for some reason), and his lifeguard friends find that he's different.
Let me first start off by saying that I am not a Baywatch viewer, but this was one of the few episodes of the show that I watched as a kid. The primary reason that I watched this episode was not because I found out that it tackled the same condition my father was dealing with, but rather because professional wrestler Giant Gonzalez was guest starring, and I was a diehard professional wrestling fan at the time.
As the episode progressed, I bonded with Cort. His symptoms were a lot like my father's. My father couldn't catch a frisbee or appropriately make out with Pamela Anderson. Likewise, my heart melted for Manny (Giant Gonzalez's character), a sideshow freak who scared children at some sort of beach carnival, but in reality he was just a touching “Pelican Man” who loved to carve pelican sculptures.
In the end, Cort leaves knowing that he can cope with his tunnel vision and Manny finds a new friend in Hobie Buchannon.
Of course, all turned a bit weird the next season when Cort returned to the show homeless and depressed. As a child, I started to be greatly concerned for my father. Was this the eventual future for my father? How could I allow my father to be homeless? How would he be able to see if what he was eating out of the dumpster was actually food? It was a confusing time.
But, over the years, concern wasn't necessary. It was pretty apparent my Dad wasn't John D. Cort at all. He was more Mitch Buchannon. Without ever putting it into these words, it was clear, forever and always, he was always there for me.
In the long haul, maybe we don't need another TV show or movie or celebrity to get retinitis pigmentosa for the awareness of the condition to spread. This Baywatch episode teaches its viewers so much, and should just be necessary for every person to watch. We learn from the show to never judge a person even if he's bumping into things or taken advantage of by some weird carny. Remember, everyone needs a friend...
In memory of Jorge “Giant” González (1966-2010)
