THE DAY AFTER - ULTRA HD WORLD

Well it's been just under 24 hours since having my first surgery on my left eye. I can't believe it! It is so amazing! It's like Ive been walking around in a grey foggy world for months and all of a sudden I am now in Ultra HD. Colours around me pop! 

I've attached this picture to today's blog because this is the picture that has shown me each week how bad my eyesight has been. This picture was bought for me by my friend. I love giraffes and so it's in my living room. As you can see it's colourful and bright and amazing. However every day prior to my operation I would look at my giraffe and only see a giraffe shape blob. I couldn't see his features, or even the colour, he was a horrible yellowy colour for the last few months. Yesterday, when I came home from the hospital I looked up and saw my giraffe and was blown away. I could see his face, I could see his colour - my giraffe was back in focus.

I need to record how I feel so that when I look back on this horrible time I can remember how difficult it was, but also how I felt once I got my one eye back. The operation was really quick and I could hear everything they were saying. It was weird, as you can see but you can't see. After the operation was finished, they put a stitch in my eye. That was strange as I could see the movement of the surgeons hand in the distance, but it was so blurry I couldn't associate it with me.

After putting my eye shield on, I closed my eye. I guess I was afraid to look. They wheeled me out of the operating room and I asked if I was allowed to open my eye. The lovely nurse told me to do it - "open your eye" All of a sudden I saw this amazing face smiling back at me. I couldn't believe it. I could see this lovely nurse looking back at me smiling at me. The emotion this caused was palpable. I started to cry, and to be honest I am starting to well up as I write this. I explained to the nurse that I couldn't believe it, it was amazing, "I can see your face". She was so lovely, she allowed me to have a hug as I was a sobbing mess. The porter came in with a wheel chair to find me sobbing and saying, "I can see your face too" He was overcome and said, "This is why we do this job". On going back into the main area to have a cup of coffee and a biscuit, I made the little old man sat next to me cry as I couldn't stop sobbing. Then the best thing ever - I phoned Kate to come and get me. I walked through the door and saw my best friend stood in front of me for the first time in a long time. I saw her smiling face and so the crying started again. I just grabbed her and hugged her like we hadn't seen one another for ages - which for me was the case. I'd missed seeing that face, that kind face of my best friend. We then made our way through the hospital, this took ages as I kept reading the signs - not because we needed me to, but because I could see the signs for the first time in a very long time. 

On arriving home I was met by a very excited poodle. I didn't realise that I hadn't been able to see Mongo's face. But now I can see his face and the definition of his fur. It is so amazing to see this little guy. Then we went to Canasta with some friends. I sat not playing, I just wanted to be with my friends. I walked through Enza's door and saw her face, I just wanted to grab her and hug her as I've missed her too. Every time I see people's face it makes me tear up. I have been in such a fog, I guess you get used to not seeing things.  I didn't play the game, but all of us wanted to see if I could see the difference between K,Q and J as I've not been able to distinguish between them. 

I guess it's still a lot to process. I am welling up just thinking about it. I still have a long way to go. I am still blind in my right eye and don't know when that will be sorted. I still can't drive, but that's ok because I can see faces, colours, the food I'm eating, and my giraffe. I want to thank everyone who has helped me, read for me, led me across roads, driven me, laughed with me and cried with me, you are all brilliant. More than anything, I want to thank God for being my all in all. Without my faith over the last year I would've given up.  Lastly to my best friend Kate. Without you my life would've been horrible. You have been my rock and I am so grateful for having you in my life. Thank you for putting up with me and for picking me up when I'm down.  Everyone should have a Kate in their life.

I've just read through this and guess what? I'm crying again!