Vision Update

July 26th
Well, I did go see the low vision specialist. She recommended progressive glasses (tri-focals). I ordered them that day and just picked them up on Friday. Oh my God, how nauseating. Obviously, I still have many blind spots and am having difficulty finding my focal point for far and near vision.

They told me to try them for a few weeks, yet I think I'm going to trade them in for distance only and get a separate pair for reading. Say your prayers the vision with these glasses starts to work better. I know I am blessed to see at all, but now I'm greedy and want to see the world again like I used to.

Today I received an ClearView machine at the house for a week long trial. It is similar to an overhead projector all in one. It can magnify up to 50 times the size of pictures and print. The screen is 22 inches and allow me to adjust the magnification very easily. I can also now see the words better on my Kindle. Yippee!!

Lots of changes to get used to these days. As always, all your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated. Going to try a movie tonight with one of my neighbors. Hope the new glasses work well.

July 13th - late entry
Today Steve and I went to see my eye surgeon. My vision today is 20/240 and still unchanged from 4 weeks ago. The good news is the macular hole remains closed and healed. The optic nerve lesion is unchanged. The large lesion has shrunk, scarred and no longer bleeding. The unfortunate news for me, is that he felt that since my vision was unchanged it may be the balance of my improvement.

He said the neurons would continue to redevelop yet he couldn't guarantee anything . Steve and I decided I need to remember that I heal slowly and will remain optimistic. He recommended a visit to a low vision specialist. I have blind spots still in my mid vision. I return for my next check up in 8 weeks.

Kim Gillespie

WOW ! Here is the latest. On July 27th we had a huge turn out for the 5K4Kim Walk at Blackwell Forest Preserve. We can not thank everyone enough for participating in this event. The weather was great and everyone enjoyed the walk. Kim and I want to give a special thanks to all of the sponsors who generously donated for the event.

Restaurant.com
McGrath Lexus (Westmont)
Sound Sales Ltd. (Elmhurst)
River North Dermatology (Naperville)
Panera Bread
Glen Saniford (photography)

And of course we just can not express our gratitude enough for the ladies who put this all together. We know it took many hours of their busy lives to pull off such a perfect event. Thanks to Jeryl FoulkesValdez, Diane Tyriver Lipuma, Missy Poulos, Julie Foulkes Piel, and Denise Kenston Blaszynski.

The money raised by the walk will be a tremendous help for us with all the past and future medical bills. Again, thanks to everyone for your time and concern for our family.

Many of you say that Kim is an inspiration to you, yet she could never have gotten through the many years of medical problems without all of the phone calls, e-mails, visits and thoughtful gifts from her friends and family. Hopefully she is going through the final phase of the post surgery recovery. The gas bubble that was inflated in her eye to help the healing process is now started to break up and should be totally gone with in a few weeks. We are hoping that after the bubble is gone that she will start to gain better sight and we can get back to a somewhat normal life.

Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers

Steve

Photos from 5K4KIM...