ABOUT US:

  JEREMY HATHEWAY
    DOB: July 27, 1972 - January 3, 1992
    Favorite Author: Edgar Allen Poe
    HOBBIES: American Indian art, history, artifacts, collecting rocks, reading mysteries

  PHILIP W. MYERS
    DOB: August 8, 1973 -
    Aghana Heights, Guam
    HOME: Shreveport, LA
    EDUCATION:
    COLLEGE:
    1995 - 2003: Bossier Parish Community College
    Bossier City, LA
    (3 Credit Hours to Graduation)
    HIGH SCHOOL:
    1988 - 1992: Serrano High School
    Phelan, CA
    EMPLOYMENT:
    2006 - Present: AFFES, Barksdale AFB, LA
    2004 - 2005: AFFES, Andrews AFB, MD
    2002 - 2004: AFFES, Barksdale AFB, LA
    1996 - Present: Shadows in the Dark, LA
    Favorite Author: Dan Brown
    HOBBIES: Bowling, Movies, Web Design, Coins, Sports Trading Cards, Traveling

  OUR STORY:

  PHELAN, CA:
  It was the start of the 89-90 school year in high school and, the beginning of a new
  friendship between Jeremy Hatheway (1972 - 1992) and Philip W. Myers (1973 - ). Jeremy who was
  completely blind from having diabetes. Philip having a visual impairment caused by Toxoplasmosis.

  While together we had talked about going into business that would provide a special service for those
  who were blind or visually impaired. We decided that the business would consist of having Braille
  Greeting cards, Specialty Gift items and Sports Trading cards all in one. While at school, Jeremy had
  started getting Philip familiarized with learning how to read Braille.

  On a cold winter (January 1992) morning Philip had received a phone call from his parents about the
  passing of Jeremy. At the age of 19, he passed away from his battle with diabetes. This was a little
  difficult on Philip becuase he was about to graduate later in the year from Serrano High school.

  ALBANY, CA:
  From the months of September 1992 through April 1993, Philip attended a special school in
  the San Francisco/Oakland area called "The Orientation Center for the Blind" located in the small town
  of Albany, California. At this school, Phil learned how to read and write Braille, Mobility with a white cane,
  learned how to use Mass Transit, as well as other independent living skills.

  From the months of November 1992 through March 1993, Philip started having some complications with
  the Toxoplasmosis. During this time his doctors would run a series of tests that was finally made in late
  March of 1993. The confirmation from two types of tests, one testing the eye pressure and the other by
  doing a spinal tap to help them make the new diagnosis.

  At age 19, Philip had been diagnosed with a second condition called Hydrocephalus (water on the brain).
  On April 1, 1993 and on April 9, 1993, Philip had undergone two eye surgeries to try and relieve the
  pressure build up on his eyes from the Toxoplasmosis and Hydrocephalus. The procedure performed by
  the doctors was called a Nerve Sheath Decompression. The doctors had to make incisions on the
  optic nerve to perform this procedure.

  By the end of April of 1993, Philip would complete his training of only after seven months of being at
  The Orientation Center for the Blind. He went back to his home in Southern, California. A couple months
  later in the month of August, Philip saw another specialist in San Diego, who did not like the diagnosis
  procedure from Oakland. This doctor would discuss with my parents about the placement of the Shunt
  to help drain the excess fluid build up on the brain. On August 24, 1993, the shunt had been in place.

  Before the surgery, Philip had wanted to start his College studies in Victorville, California. After
  two weeks into the Fall 1993 Semester, Philip had to drop all four classes due to the surgery. After
  recovering and by the Spring 1994, Philip would resume his studies through the Summer 1994.

  SHREVEPORT, LA:
  In 1995, Philip and his family moved to Northwest Louisiana. This move was
  consistent with his fathers career with the Military. His father retired from the Air Force in 1992 and was
  hired to work in the Civil Service to once again continue his History writing career with the Air Force.

  In February 1995, Philip would begin working as a Volunteer with Family Services at Barksdale AFB, LA.
  In April 1995 during the celebration of Family Services birthday Philip had a picture come to mind for his
  very first Braille card for Shadows in the Dark™: a Birthday Cake with Candles design in Braille. This
  was the beginning for the foundations to creating Shadows in the Dark™. By November 1995,
  Myers had created six Braille Cards with six Braille Picture designs.

  In January 1996, out of a one bedroom apartment in Bossier City, LA. Shadows in the Dark™ started
  selling the special line of Braille Pictured Greeting Cards™ to the Blind and visually impaired community
  througout the United States. When a customer orders a card, they are able to have their cards
  personalized with their own messages.

  As of today, Shadows in the Dark™ is one of the largest providers for Braille Greeting
  Cards. By currently offering twenty-two card occasions available in eight languages:
  (English, French, Italian, Norwegian, German, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese) with more than twenty
  Braille Picture designs for the cards.

  Philip Myers had learned the English Braille Code in only seven months and has set a goal to learn all
  the possible languages offered in Braille so that Shadows in the Dark™ can continue its success
  to help all those in need.

  In Memory of: Jeremy Hatheway (1972 - 1992).