When I lost my eye
A trip to the Opticians 23rd Feb 2008
I decided to go to the Scrivens opticians in Newark Nottinghamshire because my left eye had what looked like a hair in it. Every time I tried to wipe it away thinking it was in front of my face but yep it didn’t go any where and also I had noticed that there was a slight yellow colour in view. My wife Lorraine booked an appointment the week before. On the day of the appointment It was a Saturday we went shopping and put all the goods into the car then went for coffee before the appointment everything was great, holding hands with Lorraine as we walked to the opticians. It was my turn to be looked at. I sat down thinking I may need glasses. Oh well whatever. Then the optician said to me I quote “You don’t see that every day” so I said what are you looking at the Sea, sand what? She said I think you have a broken retina. Oh what’s that I said She said that’s the outer part of the eye and then I said what do I do about that and she said I'll pop some drops in and come back in half an hour for a look again and then she said you will come back wont you and I said yeah sure. Not thinking anything about it we went and had another coffee not thinking anything was really wrong. 30 minutes passed and I was back with the optician she had another look and said this is serious you need to go to Accident and Emergency like now. I said ok but I still didn’t know the importance of this. We went home for an hour not thinking anything more about It. Then we went to the Hospital about 15 miles away, they were expecting us I was taken straight in front of everyone else I thought that’s not good.
Accident and Emergency
We have been expecting you!!!! The receptionist said (I thought mmm now’s the time to panic) but I still didn't know what was indeed really wrong with me. After about an hour of looking into both of my eyes the doctor said that he still wasn’t sure what the issue was and he would have to contact the senior consultant who was at home. She arrived about 30 minutes later and the after about a moment she said you have a melanoma in your left eye. So I said what’s that (being thick as I am) she said it’s like a tumour that’s when I looked at Lorraine and started to get very worried the consultant said to my wife "Sometimes in life things change when you least expect them to but everything is going to be ok" and I thought what’s she saying that for. She said first thing on Monday we will send an urgent fax to Professor Rennie at Sheffield Hallam Hospital so that I could be seen by the top man in this area.
Appointment with the Professor
A week later I had an appointment with Professor Rennie he wasn’t available at the time so I was looked at by Mr Rundell He took a look into my eyes again and I said please don’t mess about just tell me the facts as I really wanted to know then he said it’s very rare you have an melanoma in your left eye. So I said what’s that and could he talk to me so I would understand. He said ok Its Cancer there are several types of treatment for this but he said if you were my wife I would want her to have the eye out. I was shocked to hear this and so was my wife. Better out than in. I was silenced. He explained other treatments but in my case it would be better to remove the eye which would remove the melanoma. Then the killer we were then escorted to a quiet room you know the ones where they give you the really bad news. I couldn’t believe what was happening to me. My brave wife looked at me with loving eyes as the support nurse gave me contact information if I needed to talk to anyone. It was to be another 5 weeks of waiting before the operation, my fault I wanted to go on holiday to see my wife and two daughters with both my eyes for that one last time. The hospital would have taken me in and would have done the operation about a week later.
Holiday time 16th March 2008
Great a family holiday in Spain forget about every thing and enjoy.
The only trouble was every second thought was about the operation to remove my eye
Before the operation
The thing was I had about 5 weeks of thinking about the operation and the implications of it. There was no turning back it was the best thing at the end of the day. Remove the eye and it would hopefully remove the melanoma (Cancer). So I just had to face up to it that it was going to happen, I couldn’t stop it if I wanted to. The scene was set the inevitable would happen. I cried a few times thinking why me and became slightly depressed. But I soon stopped that nonsense and started being pro active in my thinking it could be worse I suppose it’s nothing I will still be able to see and carry on as normal with one eye. Better get on with it.
Hospital Time 2nd April 2008
The day had come when it was time to drive to Sheffield Hallamshire hospital. Me, Lorraine and my Mum (to comfort Lorraine on the journey) started the long drive. This was to be the last time I would drive with two eyes. The road was long and Sheffield is a nightmare currently having major road works so it being more difficult to get to. We got there eventually and just managed to get parked another nightmare. I took my bag out of the boot having a good look around with my eyes. Ward i 2 was were I was to be. I wondered if they then transferred you to i 1 when it was all done this was not the case just me making fun of it. I got settled and as Lorraine and my mum left for the long trip home I thought of Lorraine driving as she had only driven to Nottingham, Mansfield but never before going on roads like the M1. I was to be in there for 4 days, 2 days testing to see if I was strong enough for the operation and taking blood samples etc.
Day 3 op time
By the time day 3 came I was ready for the operation let’s get on with it I thought, I couldn’t wait any more it was time to say goodbye to my left eye. I woke up later with a head bandage and a eye patch over my left eye I was now officially a pirate. I was in no pain. The next morning Professor Rennie came to me about 8.30am to check my eye. He opened it up wide and said look up, look down, look left, look right then he said good job that."Are you ready to go home" and I said oh yeah I’m ready. Just to let you know when they remove your eye they reattach the muscles onto the new eye (orbital) implant so it still moves like an normal eye it’s amazing what they can do now days.
Good News 16th April 2008
Today I got some fantastic news, when then removed my left eye they had done tests on the eye and in the eye socket and whoo hoo all clear, from that great news then came another killer, but we are still waiting for the pathology reports back to see if it’s gone any where else. I’m still waiting.
Recovery
I’m doing really well now I’m driving and keeping focused being positive It’s a wonderful world. Well thats what I thought it turns out be be an emotional nightmare I now understand when they said youll have ups and downs and wow when your down its horrible its only happened once since the operation.
A new eye
I now have an appointment at the mobility centre in Nottingham on September 4th 2008 to get my final eye. Im doing great now every thing is ok im getting on with it as they say "lifes great"
September 9th 2008 i got my final eye im still getting used to it but it seems ok im sure the eye that i had taken out is slightly drooping oh well lets see in another couple of weeks ill post pics up soon
just an update i havnt need to go back to fix my new eye because its now settled down and is absolutley fine
I still go for checkups every 6 months im doing well with no issues
And remember take this tip from me.....
Get your eyes tested often because it can save your life
Big Thank you's to
My Wife for putting up with me
My Girls for putting up with me
My and My Wife's Mum and Dad for being there for me
Stephanie Hartley from My Opticians that found the issue
Accident and emergency staff at Kings Mill Hospital Mansfield for taking good care of me
Professor Rennie for being my saviour
Mr Rundle for expert advice
Lesley Hinchliffe Support Nurse for listening to me moaning
Nurses and staff at Sheffield Hallamshire Hospital that cared for me in hospital
Nurses that came out to treat my eye
All the guys at work for understanding and wishing me well (Special mention to Allan Dean)
Lost Eye . com for the massive support and new friendships
And all my friends you know who you are
me on 25/05/2010
