Still improving...

I returned to see my eye doctor last Monday, June 15th & came home with good news. He was very impressed that the macular hole has continued to remain closed. He was also highly impressed that there was no change in the size of the optic tumor. However, there was some bloody drainage around the lasered area, yet he feels it is 60% healed so far. The floaters I see are a result of the drainage. Unfortunately, although he is impressed, I am still frustrated that the gas bubble size is unchained from my last appointment. That continues to cause me trouble walking into objects below chin level. I also have very bad night vision. This should all get better when the bubble goes away. As for restrictions, he told me there are none. So, I am trying to get out of my house a bit more these days - moving slowly, of course! This whole healing process should take another 1-4 months.

I'm glad to see the days getting sunnier, as I feel I've been living in the dark! Hope everybody enjoyed Father's Day. Looking forward to seeing those of you that will be attending the walk this weekend! Thank you again for all the help with meals, personal assistance for myself & just general care for myself and the kids, especially with my traveling man... I could not have done it without you all.

On another note... the last month has been busy for the family. Tyler graduated 8th grade. Alyssa graduated Kindergarten and performed in her first tap recital. These are both on videotape for me to view when my vision is better!

Things are lookin' up!

I saw the doctor again today. He said that the bubble in the last 10 days has gone from 50% to 25% and that I no longer need to keep my head in a down-facing position. You have no idea how happy this makes me!!! He said that I should be starting to see more and more over the next few weeks as the bubble completely dissolves and the bloody fluid gets reabsorbed. I was so shocked that I could actually see the eye chart on the wall. I couldn't actually see any letters, but I could see that there was a chart there - major progress!!! As a matter of fact, I can now see from chin-level up, although things still remain blurry and distorted (due to bloody drainage, the bubble and trauma to the retina). I still continue to have night blindness. It's like my house is a funhouse at night. The doctor says this is very common, which made me feel better.

I follow up with him again in two weeks. In the meantime, he told me to move slower & continue to use help. I am now using a sippy cup because I spilled three glasses of water yesterday!

As always, I'd like to thank you for all your "meals on wheels" (they've all been delicious and well-received by the kids) and help during the day. Special thanks to Brenda Shinn for getting Alyssa and I all beautiful for Alyssa's recital on Sunday! Thanks also to everybody that is signing up for the walk in June. If you aren't familiar with this, you can view the details at www.wecare4kim.com

Slowly but surely...

Kim visited the eye doctor again today. He says that she continues to improve and that approximately 50% of the bubble remains. He told her that she could keep her head up 50% of the time now (woo hoo!), but during the other 50% it has to be down ALL THE WAY (like when she's in her special chair). He said her vision will continue to improve, but slowly. She will still need help for about a month he estimates (though not 24/7 as has been required up to now). We will be adding more helping times to the schedule next week...

Kim wanted to thank everyone who has come over to help or brought flowers, great treats & dinners! A BIG thank you to Angela Nickel for planting flowers in her outdoor pots.

Good news...

Kim saw the eye doctor this morning & he said that her fall did not cause any permanent damage to her eye. As he suspected, the fall caused some of the bloody fluid in her eye to mix with the bubble (which had been clear). Now, she is looking through murky, bloody fluid & her vision is negatively affected. He says that the hole is still closed and the pressure in her eye is good. There is about 65% of the bubble left. They like the patients to remain face down until it's about 50% remaining. She will see the doctor again next Friday and hopefully she will be cleared to sit up. Woo hoo! She mentioned something about having a party when that happens and celebrating with martinis : )

Needless to say, Kim is extremely relieved that there was no damage. It's annoying that she cannot see better, but the most important thing is that the hole closes properly.

Kim's little mishap

On Monday evening (5/11), Kim was sitting on her bed reaching for a drink on the ledge behind her. She was closer to the edge of the bed than she thought & fell off the bed headfirst onto the floor. Since then, she has had a headache and been dizzier than normal. Additionally, her vision is less clear than it was before the fall. Kim has spoken with the doctor, who is pretty sure that the fall did not cause anything terrible to happen (such as opening up her macular hole). He hypothesizes that the blood remaining in the bottom of her eye (as a result of the lasering he did) came loose and has now mixed with the clear fluid in her eye. Therefore, she would now be looking through this murky liquid, reducing her clarity. She will be going to the eye doctor in the morning to have him check it just to be sure. She is, with good reason, concerned about the change in her vision and will be more comfortable once he looks at the eye. Never a dull moment! Keep praying!

On another note, thank you again for all the help this week. A HUGE thank you to Aunt Mary Ellen who came to stay Wednesday through Friday while Steve traveled!!!

We will post again tomorrow after the dr. visit!

Things continue to improve...

Today, Kim had a follow-up appointment with her eye doctor. He says that things are looking good and she must have been very good about keeping her head in the proper position!!! He said the pressure in her eye is normal, which is good. The hole is still closed & the place he lasered looks good (no further bleeding). Her occular tumor is unchanged. She will see the doctor again next Monday and if things keep improving at this rate, she should be able to keep her head up more. She is DEFINITELY looking foward to THAT : )

Regarding her eyesight... Currently, Kim can see about 4-6 inches in front of face (not real clearly, but she can see shapes and colors). The doctor expects that in about 3-4 weeks she should be able to see further, e.g. seeing the television. It may take 3-6 months until she is able to read & even longer than that to see how much total vision she regains. It's unclear what percentage of her vision will ultimately return, but the doctor feels really good about how the surgery went and her progress thus far.

Kim wanted me to be sure to thank everyone who has visited and brought yummy things to eat! She is overwhelmed by your generosity and thoughtfulness...

: ) Suzanne (Kim's secretary)

One day at a time...

Kim continues to do well! As well as can be expected when you can't really see and have to stay in an awkward position, that is. I spent some time with her yesterday & she seemed in pretty good spirits. They moved her chair outside on the patio for a while and she was able to soak up a little sunshine. Steve says she has been able to sleep pretty well too.

The best news is that she has already been able to see a little bit of light/shadows & she could tell her Starbucks straw was green! That seems to be a good sign. She had not expected that to happen for a while...

She wants you all to know how much it means to her to have you all thinking of her, praying for her, and volunteering to help her & her family. They are often unable to answer the phone, so please do not worry that something is wrong if there is no answer. I will continue to post on the blog occasionally so that you know all is well!

: ) Suzanne