Update on Amy's Eye ~~ Dr. Appt. 08-20-07

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. ~~Matthew 6:22

Amy went to her eye doctor on Monday afternoon. He said her eye is looking better, and her vision was good at 20/30. She reminded me that the vision test is done in a dimly lit room and allowed as to how the room got "cloudy" looking when they turned off the lights~~ due to her pupil being stuck and not allowing in more light in dimly-lit situations. She said she definitely sees better in a normal light. At her next appointment, hopefully she will be stabilized enough to be able to get a new prescription for her glasses. She has mostly worn contacts since age 13 and her current glasses Rx is probably 10 years old. Correct lens will probably work wonders!!

She doesn't go back to the ophthalmologist for another month, but the doctor wants her to stay on the same regimen of medications in her eye. She will be seen on a regular basis (probably every 4 months) so they can be sure her eye is staying healthy. (He told her previously that every time you have a bout of the iritis (Eye-rye-tis), the eye is weakened. I suspect that her eye cannot take another bout of what she has had this summer.) I surely do thank you for your prayer support during Amy's eye illness this summer. God was so very gracious and answered a lot of prayers! Giving Him the Glory, ~~Susan

Amy ~~ Report from Eye Doctor Appt. This Morning

"And Jesus went about....healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease...." Matt. 4:23

Amy was examined by her regular ophthalmologist as well as the retina specialist in the group. The iritis is better. She had a second injection in her eye to keep the meds flowing. She is to see her laser surgeon on Monday for follow-up. Her vision is improved, and she is able to drive again. The picture is of her and the kids headed out this morning. Thanks for your continued prayers. God is so faithful to hear and answer according to His will. ~~Susan

Amy's Post-Op This Morning

I talked to Amy as she and Brian were leaving from her post-op visit. The doctor said the holes are working. Her iris has flattened back down into normal position and the fluids are moving. Her vision is bad today he said because the "stuff" in her eye was stirred up during the drilling of the four holes yesterday. Her vision should come back to a more normal read as the inside of her eye settles down. Her pupil will remain stuck to the lens of her eye which means it won't be dilating and contracting as light situations change. At some point they will have to do a lens transplant and that is when the pupil will be freed up from it's present condition. She is at work today and is preparing dinner for the family. As I said, "You can't keep a good woman down!" I appreciate everyone's prayers for her and PRAISE GOD that holes drilled in her iris yesterday are working to drain the excess fluid so that the eye pressure doesn't increase. God is good!!!

Pic of Amy Made This Evening

My daughter, Amy... she is such a strong woman not only physically and mentally but emotionally and spiritually as well. She gets that from her Dad for sure. She has suffered with a serious eye condition in her GOOD eye for 5 weeks. She has been in pain a lot of that time, has had numerous doctor appointments, and yet has carried on full-steam ahead as wife and mom and even started her new "principal" job on Monday.

She did have her laser procedure done this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. today. The doctor lasered 4 holes into her iris so that the fluid can move around and do whatever that fluid is supposed to do so that her eye pressure doesn't build up and cause glaucoma. She does have a cataract in that eye but that will be dealt with farther down the road. Her pupil is permanently stuck to her lens, but that will be taken care with a lens replacement as stated above. After her procedure today, she returned to work and then enjoyed her son Jarrett's 14th birthday dinner before we all went to church this evening. (That is her 8-year-old Josh in the picture above.)

I wanted to post this picture so that everyone can SEE that Amy is doing well. She is extremely tired but hopefully a few good nights of deep rest will help with that. We pray that she gets a good post-op report at 8:10 in the morning. Thank you for your prayers today. They were felt by Amy and Brian and by her Dad and me as well. God is so good and we trust that His will is being accomplished in Amy's arthritis situation ~~ which causes this iritis condition. Thanks for caring!! ~~Mama Susan

Amy has had her eye procedure and is back at work

At 3:00 p.m., Amy had what is called a Yag Iridotomy procedure. She now has 3 holes in her iris which should help immensely with the potential problem of the eye pressure building because of her stuck pupil due to the iritis. I am one who wants to know what is going on and so much appreciate the internet for helping to learn more about this procedure today. I googled "yag iridotomy" and came up with lots of sites. Here is one of them if you want to have an idea of what they did today. If that doesn't interest you one bit, feel free to delete.

http://www.glaucoma-association.com/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=797&=fromcfc&tt=article&lang=en&site_id=483

Thank you for your prayers!!

Susan

Amy is having eye surgery on Wednesday

My daughter, Amy (age 31) went to the retina specialist today. After a lengthy eye examination, he recommended eye surgery to be done on Wednesday at 10:00 at Sacred Heart Hospital. He will laser holes into her iris (if I understand that correctly.) The doctor said she won't be any pain and that she she can return to work after the surgery. The iritis IS better BUT her pupil has apparently been "stuck" for quite some time ~~ the retina specialist said probably for longer than she even knew she had the iritis. She already has the start of a cataract but that can be corrected with surgery to replace the lens when needed. The drilling of the holes is so that the eye fluids can adjust as the biggest danger right now is that the eye pressure gets too high. Glaucoma is a threat to eyesight so they are working to avoid any pressure dangers/damage. Another WEEK and the specialist said she would be in there CRYING from the pain of the pressure building in her eye. It sounds like God sent her to the right doctor today for sure. We praise HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Amy is fine... just glad to be getting the necessary steps taken to help retain her eyesight!! God is good!! Mama Susan thanks you for your thoughts and prayers for Amy's eye.

Update on Amy's Eye...

Amy called this morning. She chatted about their fun vacation still in progress, and I had to ask about her eye. She said it is much worse this morning. As soon as she completed the oral steroid a couple of days ago, it immediately took a downward turn. She has gotten another round of steroid pills to take and then will see the doctor here in Pensacola on Monday. The group where she goes is referring her to a retina specialist in the group so perhaps he will know something or try something that her ophthalmologist hasn't thought of. She is hurting but sounded good and said they are having a great time. They were leaving Gatlinburg when she called and are headed to Cherokee, NC to visit the Indians per Joshua's request. They are LOVING their travel trailer and have only eaten one meal out which was at the Dixie Stampede on Tuesday night. She was proud of that as the home-cooked meals figure into their food budget and they aren't "eating" up their vacation funds. Ha! At any rate, I would appreciate your continued prayers for Amy. Please pray that the different doctor might know something different to do. Amy's faith is strong, her spirits are good, and she is trusting God ~~ whatever His will is. As she said, it could be worse. At least this isn't life-threatening; just sight-threatening. God is good ~~ all the time!! ~~Amy's Mom

Update on Daughter Amy's Eye

Several have so kindly asked how Amy's eye is doing so thought I would update you as best I can. I am kind of out of touch as she and Brian and the kids have been gone on vacation since Saturday. Amy called last evening so I was able to ask about her eye, and she said she THINKS her eye is some better. Of course, I would rather hear that she KNOWS it is better so am just trusting God and thanking Him that at least she knows it is not worse.

They are having a great time on their first long vacation in their new travel trailer. She said she had been having trouble sleeping since being put on the oral steroid but had done better on Sunday night regarding that problem. This evening they are taking the kids to the Dixie Stampede so I know that will be a fun time for them all.

I would appreciate your prayers for continued progress toward healing as she does start her new job at the academy as principal of grades 4-6 on Monday with some 16 teachers under her supervision. Amy will need to be able to see clearly for all of the desk work, paper work, scheduling, and whatever that new responsibility will entail her first two weeks on the job before the teachers return and then the start of school in a month. God is able and God is good~~~ all of the time.

Thanks for your prayers.

Blessings,

Susan

Prayer Request for Daughter Amy

For nearly a month now, Amy has suffered with a serious eye inflammation called IRITIS. She has been to see her opthalmologist numerous times during this time and is on her way to the doctor right now. Please pray for wisdom for the doctor to know what to do to get this disease under control. The condition is very painful in that her pupil is trying to stick to the lens of her eye. Because of that, she has had to keep dilating drops in her eye 24 hours a day every day. That in itself is not comfortable. The IRITIS always hits her good left eye. Because her right eye is weak from birth, it has always had a vision of 20/400 so needless to say, it is no help with vision during these times of IRITIS. But you know what? God knows exactly what is going on. We don't know and can't see the big picture, but He is working even this to Amy's good. This morning on the Christian radio station, I heard the song "Count Your Many Blessings" and it convicted me as I have worried and fretted over Amy's illness. The song helped me to put my focus ON THE LORD, to count my many blessings, and to trust Him in all things. I am sending this from Amy's house as I am here to stay with my 4 grandchildren while Brian takes Amy to the doctor on his way to work. (She is unable to see to drive.) I will let Jarrett, Belle, Josh, and Jaden sleep in for a bit and then get them up, fed, dressed, and we will head off to go pick up Amy when her appointment is concluded. I will update later after Amy's doctor appointment as soon as I can. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS!! ~~Susan