30 Days of Gratitude Writing Challenge #24: Synchronosteenity & a Medical Update

Let me begin with  a follow up to my health concern reported yesterday:

I went, this morning, to the main Houston location of Houston Eye Associates (HEA), the largest ophthalmology clinic in the nation.

They looked at both my eyes, and did some tests with machines.

I can't read squat on the charts, with that eye, or even tell how many fingers the guy held up close to my face, it's all such a blur.

There may be a bleeding blood vessel, a vitreous hemorrhage, one of the most common causes of acutely or subacutely decreased vision.

There is the potential for retinal detachment.

The Cornea is fine, the cataract lens looks fine.

A look at the right eye found a large lesion in the preipheral of the retina, but the cornea is also fine.

I have a Monday 1030am appointment to see a specialist for more testing of the left eye, including an ultrasound, in order to learn more, and decide if surgery may be required to fix things.

They will also look at the right eye some more.

I spent $3 for a pillow at Target becaused the doc suggested I sleep with my head elevated on 2 pillows for the next 2 nights, and maybe make the blood, or whatever, decrease on its own a bit.

That's where we stand for now.

This visit cost me $247 to be billed to my Care Credit Card.

Thank you everyone who have shared their concern, and expressed prayers, support, and encouragement as I deal with this.

I am extremely grateful.

(This series begins here.)

The past 30 hours have not been easy to see my way through. A small matter of the "Vision Thing", with my left eye. This eye has been the main cause of my extreme nearsightedness since age 5, and cataract surgery in 2006, a story I once covered on my blog, as a way to edumicate anyone thinking of going thru the same procedure.

I awoke this morning with the situation a bit darker than when I went to bed.

In spite of that, and in spite of being extremely worried, I was comforted by the support of you, my friends, and readers, by starting the day reading my “Inspirational Thoughts to Start the Day” posted on my wall, and by trusting in God to guide me safely through this crisis.

Armed with the address of HEA I hopped a bus and sallied forth.

For the past week I have been reading a book called Your Best Life Now: 7 steps to Living at Your Full Potential, by Rev. Joel Osteen and, as I rode the bus I began to read where I’d left off the day before (My right eye knows the left one is often down right “Lazy” so willingly takes up the slack. :-D).

The first words I read made me wonder if this was yet one more case of synchronicity in my life: Chapter 9, on becoming what you believe, ends as follows (Certain words deliberately highlighted by me)…

“Learn how to conceive. Keep the IMAGE of what you want to become in front of you. Don’t restrict your VISION : Instead, begin SEEING yourself as God’s child. SEE yourself as receiving good things from your Heavenly Father.

If you’ll do your part by believing, having a big VISION for your life, living with faith and expectancy, & SEEING yourself as God SEES you, God will take you places that other people said were impossible to experience this side of Heaven. You will become what you believe.”

The next chapter encourages the reader to “Get a fresh VISION of what God can do in your life & develop a prosperous mind-set. Start LOOKING THROUGH THE EYES of faith, SEEING yourself rising to new levels. SEE yourself prospering, and keep that IMAGE in your heart and mind.”

The next chapter, after that, encourages the reader to “Learn to be confident as the individual God made you to be. Be an original. Dare to be different; be secure in who God made you to be and then go out and be the best you that you can be. Do what you know God wants you to do.”

All the words of encouragement, related to “Vision”, as I was sitting there on that bus worried I’m going to lose my sight in one eye….Is God trying to send me a message?

“Do not be afraid, all will work out as it is meant to be….Trust me, trust and believe in yourself, your best life is now about to just get started!”

Thank you, Mr. Osteen, for sharing those words at a moment that I needed to read them and, by doing so, affirming I made the right decision last week to buy this book, and 3 others that you subsequently wrote.

Food for thought, words of inspiration, as I move forward with my life.

 ****UPDATE - 8am Sunday****

I awoke this morning and discovered that what ever it is floating around  in my eye decided, due to the elevation, to gather for a group hug, or whatever, at the top of my eye, and I could actually see better than yesterday.  :-D

Didn't last long, once I got up and began to move around, but I have to think that's a good sign. :-D

****END UPDATE**** 

Next Up = 30 Days of Gratitude Writing Challenge #25: A Pencil In God's Hand

Next Medical Update = 30 Days of Gratitude Writing Challenge #26: Eye Specialists

 

Comments

[Marilynn]

These verses became practically my mantra (if that's not sacrilegious) all during the two years of Anne's cancer "journey," and I still find them the most comforting, no matter what the situation might be:

Philippians 4:6-9
New International Version (NIV)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I continue to pray ...

[Amanda Socci]

Kiril: This post was clearly written from the heart. I am very sorry for your many vision problems. Like Marilynn, all I can do is pray now, that things will get better for you.

I love how you tied in Joel Osteen's words and interpreted them uniquely to suit your life, as well as you should.

I know you will come out of things a stronger person.

[Risana]

Hey Kiril hope.all is well.

Hope you had a.good Thanksgiving.

We did not do.much just stayed.around the house with the kids.

Please let me know what happens.with.your eye and if you will be having.surgery.

Take care

Risana