Day One- Tuesday, July 12, 2016

I had a 1015am appointment for the procedure at The Springfield Clinic on south sixth at the east campus. I was to have the damaged left lense removed and a synthetic one applied.

Janny picked me up about 930am and she came inside and we chatted for a few minutes before we drove downtown. Arrived at the surgical outpatient center at The Springfield Clinic between 6h and 7th around 10am, I was called right on time at 1015am.

I walked to a room with a nurse and I got three sets of eye drops in the left eye. After each drop, I had to wait for her to come back for another dose.  I used my drops this morning, and I wasn't all the sure that I was supposed to, but the nurse said that this was correct. After the drops, she inserted the IV port.

I was in this room for almost an hour (can't say exactly because I didn't have my watch on), and then I was moved to another room where they put some kind of an appliance over my left eye that applied pressure. I was to keep both eyes shut and they said that this had to stay in place for about twenty minutes. I was probably in this office for forty-five minutes. A man connected to the anesthesiologist came in and explained what was about to happen. I didn't realize that I would be somewhat awake for the procedure and the doctor would be communicating with me during the surgery. I was hoping that I would be 100% out.

Then I was taken to the surgical theater and my arms and head were tied down to prevent movement. I was awake the entire time, and I was to focus on some bright lights that were shined at my left eye. He had to tell me a few times to stop flinching or squinting. There was no pain whatsoever.

Around 1230pm I was wheeled into the recovery area and a nurse gave me a couple of packages of cookies and a black cup of coffee. Janny was in the room, and I was ready to leave in about twenty minutes.

Joe was at home babysitting Bo, and Janny suggested that we go to the salad bar at Schuck's on Sangamon. At the time, we thought that we would get salads and then bring something back for Joe, but he had already eaten.

We sat at their kitchen table and he told me all about his various interactions with the medical establishment. My procedures cannot hold a candle to what he went through. He had several brushes with death in 2008, and I was shocked at all that he had been through.

Janny drove me home, and I got in about 3pm. I remembered that I was to see Dr. Kwedar tomorrow at 1005 am, but there was nothing in the paperwork that mentioned this, and his office address was missing. I had thought that I saw him on North Rutledge, but actually his office is at the Springfield Clinic at the West Campus. I called his office and then I remembered that I had seen him and I was confusing this visit with Dr. High (hernia) who does have his office on Rutledge.

I sent Janny a text telling her that I would easily be able to drive myself tomorrow morning. My eyesight has vastly improved and I am not even experiencing what I would call 'discomfort'.  In fact I spent almost an hour reading and finished SLEEPING BEAUTY by Phillip Margolin.