It's been awhile since I have done some blogging, but having just been on bed rest for over two weeks, I felt the urge to write.
A little over 4 weeks ago while making Christmas Cookies with our children and their grandparents, I mentioned out loud that I was seeing spots dancing around outside my right eye. My mother in-law told me that I was seeing floaters and it was a sign of aging. Seeing that I am a few months away from turning 50...this is not what I wanted to hear.
The floaters continued to get worse and I went to see my eye doctor who confirmed that I had a Vitreous detachment in my right eye, and yes it does seem to happen as you get older, but he assured me that in most cases the vitreous (floaters) would disappear and hopefully my eye would be fine. He also mentioned that in some cases there could be a chance that the Vitreous detachment could lead to a Retina detachment.
I went to work the next week, with the floaters still affecting my eyesight in my right eye, but as the week progressed, I began to see a very dark mountain type shape on the lower part of my eyesight...I could only partially see through my right eye. I assumed this was still the Vitreous detachment, but called the eye doctor to be on the safe side. After he examined me, he immediately called a Retina Specialist, and the next day, I was diagnosed with a Retina detachment, and had an emergency procedure done that same evening to try and repair the detachment.
It was a somewhat painful procedure, and after it was performed, I was then instructed to lie only on my left side with my head flat at all times, and I could only get up to go the bathroom and eat. Fortunately for me with only two weeks till Christmas, I had already finished all my shopping, all my wrapping,all the decorating, made and froze two pans of lasagna, two containers of sauce, and most of my baking was done. The hard part was being bedridden and learning to let others take over the running of my house and the rest of the Holiday preparations.
Danielle, our oldest daughter came in from NYC the night of my procedure, and Mary and Jane our other two daughters had just finished with their finals, and they all took over. Don had to go away on a business trip and he couldn't have left me in better hands. From my one eye, lying on the couch, I watched as my daughters kept up the house cleaning, made the dinners, did the laundry, finished my holiday baking, and basically took over as the "Mom" of the house. My son Michael would check in frequently and my son Ryan and his wife Annie brought me ice cream and she helped wrap the last couple of gifts for me. My friend Meryl and my friend Lori brought the family dinners, and my parents came by to entertain me with their company, and help out in whatever way they could. Prayers were being said for my eyesight, and for my Retina to heal, and I had to have faith that if I did what the doctor said, then my Retina would reattach, and my sight would return.
It has now been two days since I was allowed to sit up and move around. My Retina has healed, and I pray that it stays healed and that my other eye will remain unaffected. The fear of losing my sight taught me, that I shouldn't fear aging, I should appreciate each day, each sunrise, each sunset, and all the beauty that surrounds me. I saw even with my one working eye these last two weeks, the beauty and the love that is my supportive family and circle of friends. Eyes open has a new meaning for me, and even though my sight in my right eye will not return to normal for another month or so, I realize that when you see through the eyes of love, then your sight is never taken from you. My heart saw so much these last weeks, and I consider myself blessed to be able to truly "See" what is important in life.
P.S. Danielle, Mary, and Jane, you all stepped up to the plate these last weeks, and I just want to thank you three for all you did for me, and I love you very much....I think I've met my match in the three of you, or maybe it's just a testament to the saying that "The Apples didn't fall far from the Tree" You girls rock.
P.P.S For those of you who read this blog, please learn from my experience, and if you see black dots or floaters in the line of your vision, make sure to go to your Eye doctor and have your eyes checked out. Early detection can help prevent more serious Retina tears.
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