I Received A Massive Blow Yesterday [Ironically To Do With Vision]
Why ironic? I have a Vision Board business, the expression is "the blind leading the blind", not the blind leading the vision board business! That's right, this is to do with my eyesight and it is true, I received a massive blow yesterday!
What Has Happened?
I have had one green eye and one blue eye for as long as I can remember. It's never been a concern, just something I was born with and accepted. As many have experienced, my vision has changed over time, the blue eye deteriorating more than the green. But hey, nothing too surprising there, right? Isn't that how things work as we get older? Vision can deteriorate and one eye will be different than the other.
On Friday last week however, I woke up and found my eyelid did not want to open. How odd! i rubbed my eye and pulled the lid up - even with the lid pulled up, I seemed that my eye was closed! What is going on? I wandered through to the bathroom for a closer look, only to discover than my eye was indeed open but I could not see with it! I was seeing with the green eye only!
Friday to Sunday Annual Conference
I was gifted with a ticket to an annual conference which started on Thursday night and ended on Sunday. So I attended the conference on the Friday, thinking this will wear off.
Saturday came along and to my dismay, still no vision with the blue eye. At this point I decided to share the news with friends at the conference. Much concern was given, we prayed for my vision to be restored and continued to enjoy the conference. Which was incredible, just by the way!
Monday Came Along
Still no vision on Monday. This is just the blue eye, green eye still going strong - thank heavens! I share the news with my employer and make an appointment to see an eye specialist soonest. The first appointment I could secure was Thursday, yes, that was yesterday.
Dr Eye Specialist - Bless His Socks
Arriving nice and early, appointment was scheduled for 7am,I was there by 6.40am, one of the lovely ladies on staff came out to invite me in saying "the early bird catches the worm". What an amazing welcome!
In quick time I was ushered through to eye testing, drops for dilation administered etc. All very efficient, kind and friendly.
Off to the specialist we go. He inspects my eyes, looks away, through my file, back again at my eyes, back at the file and is not a happy man. Tells me, "this is a very, very complicated situation". I am still dealing with the fact that I cannot see with one eye, and have, until this point, been really optimistic that there is a simple solution.
Dr Eye Specialist is not a young chap, he is clearly very experienced and knowledgeable, after all, he is highly recommended. If he is saying this is complicated, it is rapidly dawning on me that there is no eye drop that is going to turn my situation around.
Dr Eye Specialist is wonderful with the time he is taking to explain things to me, points to images of the Anatomy of the Eye, similar to this one below taken from emedicinehealth.com and does his best to explain to me - who is not absorbing much at all by this stage, due to shock - all I remember is something along the lines of pressure and burst and damage to the optic nerve which causes extreme pain and he doesn't really want to discuss the possibilities!
Back to the reception we go, Dr speaks with one of the ladies controlling his diary and says to book me in at the next available time for surgery. He is trying not to alarm me, I realise and appreciate that, however ....
His team rallied around me, explaining everything I need to know after realising that this patient was looking rather shell shocked! I was cared for with such grace and gentleness - these ladies truly are incredible! They slowed things down, took time to ask some questions and gave me the opportunity to ask any questions I had. We discussed payment options (because I am not on a medical aid currently) and they really assisted with the best way forward.
Driving Back To The Office
Ok, so let's just say that driving after your pupils have been dilated is not a walk in the park, that would be on a good day! This particular day, the altered state of my eyes and the thoughts rushing through my mind, perhaps I should not have been driving, let's just say that.
I made it safely using back roads, plus I had the advantage of proximity, and took some time to breathe and think things through.
Honestly, yesterday was mostly exhausting and stressful for me. It went by in a flash and that brings me to today.
Grateful
I may not have vision in my right eye for now but I am grateful. The people who have surrounded me have given me every reason for gratitude. I have experienced love and support (even financial!) from places least expected and because of that, I emailed today confirming the surgery date.
My gratitude is also due to the fact that my green eye is my strongest eye and is doing an exceptional job of keeping me going. I am still able to drive (a lot better today than yesterday!), and work, and do the everyday things that we take for granted.
Yes, there have been some surprises along the way - like my gorgeous almond-eyed feline furbaby appearing in my bath shortly after I had washed the bath - he snuck up on me by entering the bath from the "blued-eyed" side". The poor petrol attended who I gave heart failure by jumping when he "appeared" out of nowhere at my car door! (Remember, I live in South Africa - crime is rife).
Interestingly
Like many of us, I have my social media posts planned in advanced and today's quote is "We Will either find A Way, Or Make One." by Hannibal, Carthaginian General. How apt, I will either find a way to work as a "one eyed bandit" or make one! Coincidence that this is today's post? I think not. This is not a time to fall apart and give up, this is the time to find a way through! Here is the post I shared (I've just cropped out my URL and logo). I remember selecting this image more than a month ago, it spoke to me about vision, hmm, interesting that too:
I Received A Massive Blow Yesterday [Ironically To Do With Vision]
Much as the title of this blog speaks about a blow and the irony of it being connected to vision, the experience of losing my sight in one eye (whether it is temporary or permanent - God willing it will be the former and the surgery will be a massive success!) I have learned that your sight has nothing to do with your vision and visa versa. This is in line with my beliefs:
What has been your biggest blow lately? How are you going to find a way or make a way? I look forward to your experiences, leave them in the comments below.
Love and blessings always
Recent Comments
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Hello you are on he right track my friend pray about it first,i had an incident where i stopped urinating i am like what is going on !!!???because i know my body i am overall in good health, i would go to the bathroom every morning without fail, this particular morning nothing!!and this went on for a couple of days! I prayed about it and it was revealed to me that the change of life is going on that is number 1, then 2 i start taking "natural product"s that been around for centuries turmeric has a lot of benefits and flaxseed ground,a power house of Vitamens! I used this and bam i am normal again !!after a couple of days of use these herbs has things in them for your eyes as well i don't take traditional medicine due to all the "side effects " and warnings i am not selling nothing and i am not a Dr i just wanted to share this with you to see if this could help you have a good day my friend ! I pray for you :)
So sorry to hear Louise. Worst thing I have had was cataracts removed, so I know it's a bit scary. If I remember, there was a blind man in the Bible, who Jesus touched (I know we're not supposed to get into religious stuff, but I have a special dispensation!) and he just washed his eyes and could see. So be it with you. Take those words and run with it!
Blessings
Joe
Haha, I love your special dispensation :-) You and me both have that - long may it last :-)
Thank you for your encouragement, I really appreciate it.
Blessings as always
Louise
Oh Louise I'm sorry for what happened to you. But I also notice your optimism. Leave your life in the hands of God and everything will be fine, for sure. All the best to you. Your friend Carmen
XOXO
Hello Carmen
So lovely to see you my friend :-)
Thank you for your encouragement and kindness too.
Blessings
Louise x
Thank you so much for writing this and being so personal. I am praying that the surgery is successful and you come out of this with vision of your eyes. God is good and God is faithful.
- Ryan
Hi Ryan
I do find it hard to share sometimes, so really appreciate you saw that.
Thank you too for your encouragement and I have this to say - amen and amen!
Blessings always
Louise
Your outlook in the face of adversity is truly inspiring! I am wishing you a smooth and uncomplicated recovery. I’m sure whatever the outcome you will continue to shine as it is so obviously within you.
Hi Lisa
Thank you, thank you - I really appreciate your encouragement and the time you have taken to read plus leave your uplifting words.
Blessings
Louise x
Have faith. Several years ago I had a detaches retina in my left eye and emergency surgery to repair it. I was still able to see out of it after surgery and cooperation. Months later I developed cataracts and had surgery to replace my lens with artificial lens which was made to help my vision. After all that, I could see better with both eyes than I had since a child. I only require glasses when reading close up now. I'll pray for a good outcome for your surgery.-Shirley
Ah Shirley, thank you so much.
We don't realise how precious our sign is until it's threatened - how strange we human beings are. I am sure you did the same as I did yesterday, my mind ran away with me for a while and that was not a good thing. This is how our vision and our sign varies so greatly.
Thank you for sharing your experience and the results too, I really appreciate that. Your prayers are greatly appreciated too.
Blessings always
Louise x
Hi Louise,
Just as you noted, we all have one battle or another.
I salute the courage and grace with which you have approached this situation. I pray that grace shall continually abound for you.
Challenges are part of life. Mine is a looming homelessness and my health. Over the years, I have gone through different tests and examination for a pain in my tummy, but doctors have not been able to identify the cause.
I have prayed about it all and I am leaving them at the feet of Jesus. He is abundantly able.
I am thankful for faith in the Lord and the good people around me.
I wish you all the best with the procedure.
Segun
Hi Segun
You are facing huge challenges my friend - I will keep you in my
prayers too. I've come back to edit my reply and encourage you Segun - remember that He has plans and purposes for your life, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. He does not want you to be homeless, I encourage you to take your eyes off the threat of homelessness and focus on what it will take for you to stay in your home. I also encourage you to take your attention away from the pain in your tummy (I know that sounds bizarre, the same thing was said to me by a physiotherapist when I was being treated for numerous ailments - actually, I wanted to give her a smack for that, lol!) but still, don't focus on the pain, rather focus on what feels good - anything from drinking something cool and how it feels in your mouth, going down your throat, to the softness of a chair or comfort of where you sleep. In your minds-eye see how you want to live, how you want to feel and imagine it, believe it is yours. Pray for your Heavenly Father to open your eyes and lead you to what you need to do and to fulfil your needs.
Blessings always
Louise
Thank you so very much Louise.
You are such a blessing.
I appreciate your prayers, good wishes and counsel.
God bless you.
Segun
Hi Louise,
This would have been a hard post to read, but you make it easy by your outlook on the "blow". God indeed talk to his people with the language they understand, the coincidences seem to make it easy for you. I pray for you and your surgery. May God grant you peace and restoration.
Hi there
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and leave me your feedback. Thank you for your support and prayers too.
Blessings
Louise x
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Our prayers are with you. My wife has a partial detachment of the retina on her left eye. If it does not heal on its own given the location she will eventually lose sight in that eye. It's scary to think of losing vision because of so much we take for granted that would suddenly not be part of our lives so take care and Lord willing you will get through this.
Thank you so much, Jim.
That is scary news about your wife's eye too. Incredible to think its inoperable - praying it does heal.
Blessings
Louise
Name's Andy but yes I feel bad for her because I have a concern and she has dread.