WASHOUGAL, Wash. — A workshop in Washougal serves as John Furniss' sanctuary. It is where he finds healing.
"I am always in my mind,” said John. "I create my world through my imagination."
It is the creativity he counts on after almost losing everything he had.
"It's been quite the incredible journey,” said John. "I started to find woodworking after I was blind."
Without sight, he said the steps are different.
"I will take those little bits of design that are already there, and I will transform it in my mind. I will make the curve a little bit deeper. I will make the bowl a little rounder," John explained.
Woodworking is the craft that gave him a new path, taking him far away from one of his darkest days.
"When I was 16, I got bottled up emotions that came to a head, and I decided I didn't want to be on the earth anymore. So, I attempted suicide. Whether it was providence, luck, or whatever you want to call it, my mind and my body were left completely intact other than my sight and sense of smell being taken,” said John.
What happened long ago lingers for Anni Furniss.
"I am so grateful that he is still here,” said Anni.
Anni is an artist who remembers her chance meeting with John in July of 2012.
"They were bringing in volunteer artists to paint pianos for a fundraiser,” said Anni.
"So, I walk into the room and like an iron bar to a magnet, hand in the paint,” said John.
"All of a sudden I hear, 'Oops,'” Anni recalled. "It was John, and he had these amazing dimples, and his eyes were closed, and I was like, 'OK, he is blind.'"
In the conversations that followed, John and Anni found out they had something in common.
"We started talking about our stories with our struggles with mental health,” said Anni. "That really brought us together."
They bonded over art and using it as a therapeutic tool.
"Woodworking has been one of the things that has opened up that light for me in so many ways,” said John.
"He used woodworking as a way to focus away from the depression, the anxiety, the struggles that he had just like I did with painting,” said Anni.
The couple connected in another critical way too.
"I was diagnosed with a hypermobility condition that has changed my life in a lot of negative ways because I lost an incredible amount of mobility over the last few years. John is the one who has been there for me,” said Anni. "I always say John is my legs and my muscle. And I am John's eyes."
"We fill each other in where the other person is missing,” said John.
It is a partnership that led to a proposal. The couple married in September 2015.
"I rarely come across a relationship like ours, that we just are truly devoted to each other, to our cause together,” said John.
They found peace, purpose, and a platform with social media posts about second chances.
Now they are sharing their message about mental health in a new book called ‘The Blind Woodsman’ that was released in March.
"Mental health is no different than the health of your heart or your lungs or your joints or anything,” said John. "I had something to offer through my story."
"People have even said that John sharing his story has literally saved their life,” said Anni.
John remembers being approached by a girl whose father died by suicide.
"She said that my story helped her. It helped her understand why. It helped her accept it,” said John.
"If there was even just one person that he did that for, it would be all worth it,” said Anni. "John, he is the most gentle, loving, kind person that I know, and everyone needs to know his story, and he can't tell it on his own and so I am honored to be able to tell that for him. He can't see with his eyes, but he sees with his mind and his heart."
"I like to say I lost my sight, and I gained my vision,” said John.
From John's workshop to Anni's art studio, the couple is combining their talents and conquering obstacles. They say it is a testament to their story.
"It is like the best love story. I think so,” said Anni.
"I hope it can give people hope that there is light on the other side of darkness,” said John.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Visit Vibrant Emotional Health’s Safe Space for digital resources.