Fearless Friday

On May 18, I published a post about how I am a testament of how God’s love goes before us. I was due to leave for Seattle shortly. I was going for my younger granddaughter’s gymnastics exhibition and my older granddaughter’s violin concert. They didn’t know, it was going to be a surprise!

A few weeks ago I started to experience some different floaties in my right eye that were different enough I thought I needed to go to an ophthalmologist. I saw him a week before I was due to leave. I was told I had a detached retina. I went to see a specialist and had surgery on Tuesday, May 22.

If I didn’t think I needed to see a doctor or didn’t get the appointment before I left or got on the plane to Seattle I would’ve had a serious medical emergency. But God protected me every step of the way!

The first ophthalmologist gave me several materials about a detached retina and typical strategies to fix it. In those materials it said that it may be many months before someone would regain their sight. It could even be that a person would never retained their sight in the effected eye. I was on bed rest. Either flat on my back  or on my right side.  I began getting fearful and the following Scriptures brought me back to resting in God’s love.

These Scriptures come from one of the devotions I love is Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening from Bible Gateway.

James 5:16. “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Psalm 55:22 “Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”

Psalm 55:22. “Continue in the faith.”

Acts 14:22 “What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?”

2 Samuel 9:8. “If Mephibosheth was thus humbled by David’s kindness, what shall we be in the presence of our gracious Lord? The more grace we have, the less we shall think of ourselves, for grace, like light, reveals our impurity.”

Lamentations 3:21. “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.”

I had a good appointment at the surgeon office the day after the surgery. He was pleased with the results. I still had restrictions of no driving, no reading, no exercise and  no change in altitude travel. I was taking two drops four times a day and one drop twice a day. After the first week it was reduced to one drop twice a day.

I was also not allowed to do my daily physical therapy exercises since most of those are on my back or changing side to side. I had less restrictions on positioning as well. Where I used to be able to only lay on my left side and keep my head down as much as possible, now I could have my head up, and lay on either side.

The surgery I just had is called pneumatic Retinopexy. It is where a gas bubble is injected into the space inside the eye and this pushes the retina back in place

The gas bubble after a week was at 60%. Which means I really couldn’t see out of my right eye. Due to lasik surgery my right eye is the eye I see close with. (I received mono vision, which means my left eye sees far and my right eye sees near.). So not only can I not read, because of the depth perception change due to the gas bubble, I cannot drive either.

As you can imagine, my activities were greatly reduced. I couldn’t go to church or attend my Bible study. I can’t study for and teach my Bible study. And I can’t do my puzzle’s and read during the day. However, I feel so blessed that God directed me to take care of this before I got on the plane to Seattle. I know he’s going before me every step of the way.

At my one week appointment after the retinal reattachment surgery, the gas bubble that was injected into my eye was at 60%.  Over the next seven days, the gas bubble decreased to 30/40%. This was just my observation. The next couple days it seem to decrease to 25/30%.

Not being able to read my Bible, was a great hardship, as I read it morning and night. The following scriptures became very real to me during this time. And also were quite a comfort to me.

Deuteronomy 11:18 “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.”

Deuteronomy 30:14 “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.”

I began feeling very lazy! I felt that my balance had definitely been affected. But that could also be a symptom of my right eye being dilated.  I anticipate having to work up to my previous level.

One day I was watching the 700 club. The hosts of the 700 club were praying for the viewers needs. I prayed along with them. I know many of my friends, and some of you my blogger friends, that were praying for me during this time. And I am so very grateful. During these prayers on the 700 Club, I verbally stated I receive these prayers! Shortly thereafter, the gas bubble decreased by at least half, so around 10%.  Later, it was completely gone! Completely gone!

I have heard about other’s experiences. One of our therapists here at our senior living community, said that her mother-in-law still has gas bubble after over a year! I feel so incredibly blessed and cared for by the God of the universe!

Lamentations 3:22-23  “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”

Psalm 5:3 “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.”

Psalm 59:16 “But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble.”

1 Chronicles 21:13 “And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Please let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies arevery great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

Psalm 69:16 “Hear me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good; Turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies.”

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