On my way to Boston for a consultation with yet another world class retina specialist, Dr. Dean Elliott, to see if he would like to try surgery to remove the scar tissue (cyclitic membrane) that is blocking the flow of retinal fluid as well as blocking light from reaching my retina. My research indicates that this surgery has been done but the three doctors I've consulted (Fivgas, Weinreb and what's his name in Florida) all say it's got a low probability of success. My view is any chance of success is better than having no useful vision in my left eye, even though my retina is attached and I can perceive light that gets through the curtain of scar tissue. If my eye is further damaged by the surgery, I don't see that I'm worse off than now and I will know I gave it a shot.
My appointment happened to fall on Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' Inauguration Day. After the horror show at the Capitol on January 6, the FBI warned of possible violent demonstrations by right wing insurrectionists at any or all of the 50 state capitols and the District of Columbia today and tomorrow. Boston, of course, is the capitol of Massachusetts, so I'm wondering what will take place there.
I plan to stay in my hotel room anyway except to go to my consultation which is right down St. Charles Street from the Liberty, my Marriott luxury hotel (I also am flying first class, what the heck, as I told me Mom on many occasions, if I don't spend it, my children will). I'm not particularly concerned about my safety but I play the odds habitually and have no intention of getting out into a dangerous situation. The COVID pandemic is currently at its most dangerous point and I haven't gotten my first vaccine shot. I did get a test a week ago to document my COVID status which unsurprisingly came back negative.
January 21, 2021
A new day dawns
Yesterday was a joyous day as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were inaugurated successfully as the new President and Vice-President of the USA. My appointment with Dr. Elliott was at 2pm so I was able to watch the entire ceremony until it ended around 12 Noon EST. The performances by Lady Gaga (the Star Spangled Banner), Jennifer Lopez (This Land is Your Land) and Garth Brooks (Amazing Grace) were lovely and the closing poem The hill we climb by National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman was sensational. Her poise and confidence, verbal artistry, and delivery were remarkably accomplished. The message was timeless and direct- we mustn't ever surrender in the love-driven struggle for that more perfect union against the forces of selfishness, tribalism, fear and hate. The iconic opening of the old Superman TV series with George Reeves comes to mind: Truth, Justice and the American Way.
I went to my consultation without fear or worry, prepared to move forward regardless of the medical verdict. After a very thorough work up much like the one at Shiley Institute except for testing the vision in my right eye, I met with the doctor and was told that the condition of my eye is beyond repair. He finally gave me a complete explanation of why that is- among several major issues, the eyeball tissue behind my retina has deteriorated so that the structure can't be returned to its healthy size and strength. Removing the scar tissue, in his opinion, would not fix that or other issues and could further damage the eye. The eye is most likely to remain stable but could deteriorate further resulting in the need to remove the eye.
I took this in stoically and didn't leave feeling deflated (no pun intended), just mildly disappointed. Looking at the situation objectively, I don't have to undergo further surgery and I'm still able to see well with my right eye. I'm ready to accept the facts and move on. I no longer have to wonder about the condition and what I should do about it. With the end of the disastrous and corrupt Trump administration and dedicated Democrats controlling the Presidency and both Houses of Congress, things can only get better for the USA and the world. I can now turn my full attention
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