Update on my day ...

My visit to the Moran Eye Center became more complicated than I had hoped. Cricket & I arrived there this morning at 9 am and as I got there I began to wish that I had Steve with me (he was more than willing but I was hoping for a quick visit and then to be able to have fun the rest of the day) Unfortunately, it turned out to be a long day ... the morning was exam & photos and then they concluded due to the macula edema (swelling) they would need to do a steroid injection in my right eye (yikes! I had never had this done before)

Dr. Bernstein asked if I could return in the afternoon -- they were so busy in the morning. The waiting area was so crowded - they were offering us drinks and granola bars. Cricket and I made new friends and everyone had a story of a challenge they were dealing with.

I met my friend, Lacey at Gateway for lunch and it was so fun to get to know her better ... we have so much in common ... among many things one of which is retinitis pigmentosa. (I am sad that I got so busy talking and enjoying our lunch together that I left and realized I did not get a picture of us together... next time for sure!) It felt so good to talk and share with someone that could totally understand the dynamics and challenges of retinitis pigmentosa! Love and thanks, Lacey!

So instead of spending my afternoon shopping I had to return to the Moran Eye Center for the steroid injection in my right eye. As I laid on the table for the procedure to begin, I told the nurse okay, I am feeling anxious I guess I need to practice what I tell my clients so I tried to relax, breathe, be in the moment, etc. Cricket was concerned about me so I laid my coat down on the ground so she could snuggle up on it and feel secure (somebody needed to cause I was scared!) I had called Steve to join me but they called me in quicker than we had anticipated so I was by myself when they did the procedure. As he ended, he asked me if I could see his fingers waving - I could not. I survived ... eyedrops for the next 4 days and we will see if it stopped the swelling in 4 weeks when he will decide if he is going to do it in the other eye. As we were leaving I told Cricket, I was relying on her 100% to find the elevator - both my eyes were dilated and blurry so there was little vision remaining at this point. Cricket did wonderful.

We waited for Steve outside on this special bench - which brought back so many memories of Sheryl. I love her and miss her. She worked at the Moran Eye Center and was always such a kind and amazing person ... she died 1 1/2 years ago.

We finished the evening sharing it with friends, Paul & Phyllis. They viewed all our pictures from Greece - now that is incredible friends don't you think to sit and listen to our two-week travelogue! They also gave us an early Christmas present - a firminator for Cricket and Missy! They love it!

At the reception desk at the Moran Eye Center they had the following quote from Helen Keller:

Use your eyes as if tomorrow you would be stricken blind. Hear the music of voices, the song of a bird, the mighty strains of an orchestra, as if you would be stricken deaf tomorrow, touch each object as if tomorrow your tactile sense would fail. Smell the perfume of flowers, taste with relish each morsel, as if tomorrow yo could never smell and taste again. Make the most of every sense; glory in all the facets of pleasure and beauty which nature produces.

It turned out to be an emotionally and physically draining day ... such is life but we made it! A phrase I keep hearing ... It is what it is.