What the heck? Another 1.5 inches of rain during the night? Glub, glub! My gardening shoes are going to need the dust blown off of them in time to come . . . or the city weed inspector may be making a home visit.
I had a 10:00 a.m. appointment with an eye specialist, Dr. Gaven, who comes to St. James from Mankato. He happens to be the same doctor who did the laser work a decade back when both of my retinas detached within six months of each other. At the time I was questioned quite intensely as to whether I had taken a hard fall with a blow to my head. The answer was no. Just a fluke. Torn retinas left untreated do end up in blindness. I do visit the eye doctor every six months without fail. From the time of December, 2017, to May, 2018, a small hole had appeared in my right retina. Thus was the consult today to get an opinion on what was happening. Both the specialist and I were amazed that yes, he could see the hole, but . . . the hole was not as large as it had been in May and the eye was producing its own scar to close the hole. Basically that is what laser surgery on a torn retina does . . . it attaches the retina and the scar then holds the retina in place. Dr. Gaven checked both retinas and the work of a decade ago was A.O.K. Whew! The comment was given that I have a very good immune system. I’ll take that to the bank any day.
I had driven myself the six blocks uptown and believe me I was glad when I drove into the driveway coming home. The dilation solution had really done a number on my vision to a greater degree than I could remember from times past. It may have been stress, relief or lack of comfort from not being able to have my eyes focus, but I was a mess that came with a nasty headache. I sat down in my favorite chair, closed my eyes and chilled.
What came to my mind was my friend Judy. She retired from Brown County about the same time I retired from Watonwan County. A month after her retirement she was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration. It is an incurable disease of the center portion of the retina and thus the center portion of vision is distorted or totally lost. Over the course of the disease as it progressed, Judy has auras of light, but nothing that could be considered as vision. Judy did go to Arizona where they had the option of harvesting her own stem cells and injecting them into her eyes, but it was not successful to any meaningful result. She can listen to e-books. Her mobility is with help and what she has trained herself to remember in her home. She has never seen her great grandson. She remembers her family and friends via their voices.
This afternoon, I sat in my disoriented state with my eyes closed and gave blessings to the Lord my Father how fortunate I have been and am. I might add, my eyes did leak a bit for Judy and all she has lost.
On a light note. Later in the day I went with Dennis and we picked up the ole cowboys two-wheel trailer that is now sporting two new tires. Needless to say, Kevin and Kersten can attest to the fact that the old ones were running on the grace of God. A good day for us on Stauffer Avenue.