So precious is sight

This summer was such an eye opener of our family. Tarry (my husband) was having trouble seeing one night in June that he made an appointment with the optometrist, which I had been reminding him about for months. I had other errands to do that day, but when I got home that afternoon he told me that the doctor told him that his right eye's retina was detaching. We went to this office of Vitreo-Retinal Consultants in Wichita, and saw Dr. Michael P Varenhorst. Their office procedure is totally different than we ever imagined. There are several stages to the appointment. Stage 1 - check in, review records and have a seat in front waiting room. This area has a large TV, many 1 and 2 seat cushioned chairs/couches, and a drink table with coffee/tea/cocoa and around the corner is the drinking water and restrooms. Everyone waits until called by an assistant. Stage 2 - the assistant takes you into a room where there is optical equipment, electrical chart, and a bench for family member/s. The assistant does a preliminary assessment and dilates the patient’s eyes and checks for glaucoma. Then you follow them to a second waiting room with this huge fish tank, more of the same chairs/couches and a medium size TV. Stage 3 - You wait for at least 10-20 minutes for the drops dilate your pupils. Stage 4 - They call you again and escort you back to one of those examine rooms and there you wait for the doctor to come in and examine your eyes. At this point, this is where we were floored as to what was to come. Tarry needed surgery ASAP, and he wanted it schedule that on Thursday, June 17. Tarry told him that there was no way he could do it then, he didn’t have his wheat harvested yet, and he had to get the soybeans planted first. The doctor was very understanding, and he said that he will give Tarry 10 days to get things in order. Dr. Varenhorst also told us that his left eye was having the same tendencies so he was going to laser the left eye that same day; then explained what happens in surgery, how long it can take to reattach, the healing process and other miscellaneous information. He also told us the cost of the out-patient surgery at Wesley Hospital ($15,000.00) for ½ to 3/4 of a day. Stage 5 – The assistant then takes you to the reception desk to verify your appointment schedule. They make sure you have a blue medical bag that has your dark glasses, eye drops and your directions on how to take care of your eyes before the surgery.
During his 10 days we worked at getting the wheat harvested. Our friend, Kim Walker came and helped put sweeps on the cultivator, drove a combine, and general help around the farm. She grew up on a farm in Oklahoma, so she knows her way around farms. We had several helpers come over to assist Tarry.

On June 25th we went back for the 10 day check up and Tarry’s eyes had changed a little but he should schedule the surgery for the following week. Tarry’s surgery was set for July 1. So he had approximately he had another week to work on getting the soybeans in the ground. By the 30th , all the beans were in the ground and sprayed with fertilizer and for weed control.
The 30th , was also Kristina’s 12th birthday, and she had a sleepover with a few of her friends. I took Tarry up to Wesley Hospital at 7am that morning to get the lab work done and he found out that he had lost 25 pounds through the summer. It’s not nice to gloat, considering I think I found it. The nurse who did his lab information was very surprised that he had never been checked in for any surgery ever, or never having had an IV done. She found him in great health and no medications, Good specimen! We were back home by 8am.
July 1 we went to the hospital at 6:30 am, surgery was scheduled for 10:30, No clue why we needed to be there three hours early, but waiting rooms were full of people already who were there for other out-patient surgeries as well as for eyes. Tarry’s mom went with me, and we waited around all day. We read books, did some crossword puzzles, talked, and ate at the hospital cafeteria. By 4:30 we had Tarry and we were heading home. The next morning we had an 8:00 appointment and so did two other patients, one was from Dodge City, and the other from eastern Kansas. We were all there early and ready to get back home. According to the doctor his eyes were healing better than expected, he said they looked good. See you in 1 week, follow your directions, and if you are not sure if you can do something ask your wife, and she will tell you “NO”. Well he has been a good patient, and very impatient to get back outside to do his thing, whatever that is. Tarry has had two 1 week appointments and 1 two week appointment, and now we are looking at a 6 week (Sept 8), 6 month (March 2011), and yearly check-ups. He will need to get new corrective lens sometime by October.

WE asked God to handle this financial matter, and so far he has been exceptional. There have been several anonymous gifts and several others who want to help and we continue to leave it up to God. He knows what is needed. He is an awesome God.

I hope you are doing fine, and I enjoy reading your journal blog.

Keeping you in our prayers everyday.

Nancy Zerger and family.