OUT OF THE COCOON

 

OUT OF THE COCOON

My last visit to Jules Stein Eye Institute (JSEI) in March presented me with questions. Unable to see the Retina Specialist, I had a brief conversation with a Hospital Administrator, who being courteous and thorough I was left without any indication or direction as to what I should do.  By mid June I was feeling discouraged at the lack of any communication from my JSEI doctor.  This dampen my spirit and I became sad and angry. There was no information coming forth from JSEI, this being one of the leading Eye Institutes in the Country.  I have been thinking of all the things I could do again with restored eyesight via stem cell treatment.  Would this slip away before I could ever realise it?

  It has been 20 years since I have lost my eyesight which is now at a visual measurement of 20/300.  This  has made it impossible to do anything skilfully that requires adequate vision.  It has made every day of my life exceptionally challenging some days more difficult than others.  Simple and mundane tasks, such as seeing clearly the settings on the washing machine, dryer, threading a needle to mend a shirt, or sew on buttons.  For most people these daily task are not even given a second thought, yet in my case they are major challenges, such as: following a multi step recipe, recognising the shampoo bottle over the moisturiser once in the shower, or locating my magnifier, house key and sunglasses.  Because I can’t see, even up close as everything falls into a blind spot, so I must sweep the surface to locate, making ever task tremendously time consuming and discouraging. The only technology I can use is an Apple iPad which is limited and causes thwarting my every task I attempt to do. Keeping a vital sense of accomplishment as I continually need to ask for help is an on-going stress factor.

I have dreams of taking care of Jim as he gets older and drive him around to doctor visits also assist him in care for him as he has done for me.  I thought it prudent to take computer classes,  to continue my Spanish guitar lessons, also would like to develop my art with some formal instruction. At present time I am happy continuing  my college courses online. I was facing the death of dreams and would need to gather the courage to admit it. In a word it was terrifying.  The  following two months passed in silence from JSEI.

The beginning of August found me very motivated to contact my doctor and ask why I must be“wrapped in a cocoon” of silence and wait?  We send a registered letter asking the Doctor when might the stem cell procedure begin?  Two weeks past and we got the response. 

Remarkably on August 3 a call came in from Jules  Stein Eye Institute there was a voicemail for me saying the doctor had not forgotten me and that I was to make an appointment or they would call me by December.  There was also an explanation for the delay. Hallelujah!  A explanation and acknowledgement after a year and a half of waiting now this is something I can work with!  I am leaving my cocoon jubilantly.     Roshonda     (Jim assisted me with this post)