Surgery Results

Well, Mark is recovering from yesterday's surgery - the poor dear. He is in a lot of pain which is unusual. He actually took Tylenol. MeLissa actually had to go buy Tylenol! We don't usually even have this sort of thing in our house...and he's never had to take anything after a surgery, but then, this is a different surgery than all that have come before.

It's different because it was performed on an eye that is giving up. Yes, you read right. Mark's right eye, according to the doctor, is in the beginning stages of decline - it is changing shape and has begun to shrink in size. So, we are now facing a future together that is nothing like we expected. We're both doing our best to be strong for each other.

We visited the doctor this morning for his first post operative visit and he confirmed that there really wasn't anything more that could be done for Mark's eyes. He was very apologetic - it was apparent that he wished he could do something, but that he'd run out of options. We actually feel compassion for him in addition to gratitude - he made a great effort. He mentioned that maybe doing nothing at the beginning would have let Mark have vision for longer, but I think we all agree that being proactive was more our style. To sit idly by and wait for a negative outcome is just not something we could have done.

Mark is being referred to a low vision/blind individual organization that will help evaluate and train him for the challenges he'll face as a fully blind individual. The dog he's been interested in having may be joining our family sooner than expected...we're already amusing ourselves considering how our dear kitty will react - she is deathly afraid of dogs that are half her size. We had planned to get one as a puppy and let it grow with her, but it looks like that plan may be scrapped. Everybody will have lots of adjusting to do...

So, we're sorry for such a "bummer" post here, but we thought you'd all want to know what was going on. Mark is again in the face down position for a week or so. The doctor wants to do everything possible to prolong Mark's visual capabilities.

For those who may be wondering, MeLissa still plans to pursue her new career and her chance to perform with the big band (though this may be postponed for a bit). Mark wouldn't have it any other way. In the long run, we believe it will actually afford us a level of flexibility that a standard 8 to 5 job does not allow.

We thank you for your thoughts and prayers over the past few months and hope that you will continue to pray for us as we travel down this newest path that has been set before us. We're hopeful that despite the adversity we're experiencing. And, we're trying to stay focused on MeLissa's favorite movie quote:

"It's the character that is the strongest that God gives the most challenges to. You can take that as a compliment." (from the Movie Return to Me). Blessings and love to you all - we appreciate your standing strong for us during this difficult time.