I have loved the words to Amazing Grace my whole life and will instantly tear up if I hear a beautiful rendition of it sung, but now it holds an extra special place in my heart for entirely different reasons.
For the past aproximately 15 years I have had a battle that I haven’t spoken openly about except to a few precious friends and family members. I have wrestled with my vision getting ever weaker for reasons I didn’t quite understand or know. About 13 years ago, my optometrist told me that my eyes were getting worse at a much faster pace than he would expect of a woman of my age (at the time 36) but he didn’t look any deeper for the cause. In fact, my eyes went from rather far-sighted to near sighted within the space of 6 years.
About 4 years ago I began to notice difficulty with head lights when driving and seeing double images of lights (like the moon) and other items that would seem to overlap each other. About 2 years ago I saw such a difference that I began to search out answers and looked for an optometrist that could help me understand what was happening. After a thorough exam that included detailed photographs of my eyes, my doctor told me that I had cataracts. He told me that I needed to wait until I couldn’t stand it any more and then he would refer me for surgery.
Well… the first surgery happened a month ago on my worst eye and it was nothing short of miraculous. My second surgery happened yesterday, on Friday morning (March 14th) I will have my bandage removed and will see clearly for the first time in decades. I’m so blessed and amazed at how wonderfully I can see with one good eye, I can’t wait for the final unveiling. It’s a whole new world.
I won’t even tell you how ridiculous it was in the last six months to try to draw or paint, but God gave me the grace and ability to do so. I should have had my husband take photos of my set up with my glasses and giant magnifying lenses over the top of them! So, as you can imagine, this past two week’s painting has been such a relief, joy and delight. I’ve painted more in two weeks than the total of the six months prior work .
I’m sharing this with you because so many of you have become dear friends through this blog, and I try to share as much as I can about my real life, including both my struggles and my victories. I also want to help educate you in case you are suffering with cataracts and don’t know it.
Cataracts can come from several sources: Diabetes Melitis, extended steroid use such as Prednisone, genetic errors of metabolism and chronic exposure to UV rays usually through exposure to sunlight. I am likely the later and possibly even the genetic aspect as I think it quite possible that I’ve struggled with this the better part of my life. I’ve constantly complained that my vision was blurry even though my eyes were "great." If you get a new prescription but still don’t seem to see clearly, you could be experiencing the onset of cataracts. I grew up in San Diego, body surfed and spent a lot of time at the beach, pool and playing tennis competitively — all without wearing sunglasses as I just didn’t really like them. I learned my lesson and I hope you and your children will as well.
"Symptoms of Cataracts
Symptoms of developing cataracts include double or blurred vision, sensitivity to light and glare (which may make driving difficult), (AJ’s note: difficulties with night driving were one of the first major complications for me) less vivid perception of color and frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptions.
Cataracts are typically detected through a medical eye examination. The usual test for visual acuity (the letter eye chart) may not reflect the true nature of visual loss. Other tests that measure glare sensitivity, contrast sensitivity, night vision, color vision, and side or central vision help to nail down the diagnosis.
Because most cataracts associated with aging develop slowly, many patients may not notice their visual loss until it has become severe. Some cataracts remain small and never need treatment; others grow more quickly and progressively larger. Only when a cataract seriously interferes with normal activities is it time to consider surgery. People who depend on their eyes for work, play and other activities may want their cataracts removed earlier than those whose needs are less demanding. (Quoted from http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/114/main.html#SymptomsofCataracts ) "
You can find out much more simply by googling cataracts. If you think that this might be an issue for you, I heartily recommend that you pursue seeing a doctor and having the surgery if recommended. It was virtually painless, the only pain was the stick of the needle for the IV. The results were instant and amazing. Don’t let fear hold you back. A friend of mine, Deb D here on my blog and the Daisie message board, told me that "The hardest thing will be the wait between your first and second eye!" and she was totally right.
I was especially glad that I had had the first surgery before going to the Bahamas two weeks ago. The colors were amazing and the ability to drink it all in was something I’ll treasure forever. I am like the blind man who was healed and turned back to thank Jesus.
SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY: Luke 18:39-43 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord, I want to see," he replied. Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. NIV
PRAYER: Lord, today, I am that blind man that has been given a gift too precious for words and I want to thank you first and foremost for showing me how to restore my sight and then using my precious doctor’s hands to accomplish that task. (Doctor Nii in Fresno, CA) I ask that you enable me to use that sight purely for your glory and to bless those you have allowed me to share it with. Give me both the technical ability to see and the DESIGN ability to "see" creatively and may the gift you gave me be returned to you as a blessing to your heart. My greatest joy in life is to create "refrigerator art" for my heavenly father! AMEN
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story with us…I am SO happy that you have been healed. I have known several people with cataracts and understand, as much as one can who hasn’t had it, what a miracle that surgery is. God has truly blessed you, and thru you, me. Thank you.
AJ! What a trial you have been going thorough! My sister had to have cataracts removed also. I have been legally blind since I was about ten years old. One of the first things I did for ME after my divorce 7 years ago was to have the Lasik surgery to correct my vision. That was the most wonderful thing I could have done. For the first few weeks after the surgery, I went around asking my daughter’s, “Do you want me to read that for you?” if we were driving down the road. I could read road signs and billboards that I had not ever been able to read before. I am so happy that you had this done and can’t wait for your new art! Congratulations!
That is wonderful news AJ…. I am so happy for you!!!!!!
What wonderful news and a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing it!
Thank you for sharing your story. I can’t begin to imagine what a worry & struggle it must have been for you. Your work is so beautiful! Thanks be to God for your restored sight!
God bless, Gill (pinkpoppy)
I’m so happy you are going to be seeing clearly now 🙂 I only wish you could have shared with us earlier, so we could support you 🙂 I can’t wait to see what your new eyes will guide you to create! BTW~It isn’t too late to have Steve take a picture of you wearing you glasses and giant magnifying lenses over the top of them. LOL (giggle, giggle! I thought of doing that 🙂 It’s funny now, it sure wasn’t funny then though. Hugs, AJ)
Thanks for putting this on your blog. I too am going through this and was told the same thing you were. Wait they are not bad enough for surgery.
There is a lot of things that I was not aware of that could cause the problems. Steriods, (I have been on a lot due to my back surgeries and pain). Growing up on a ranch and working outside, I never gave a thought to wearing sunglasses.
All my children have blue or green eyes and I have insisted they all wear sunglasses when out side.
Thank you for sharing your story and I am glad you are doing fine and can see better.
Hugs, Betty
AJ, let us hear as soon as you can how the second surgery went. I hope you come out with 20/20 vision immediately. I am so proud of you for getting this done and now your work will be so much easier for you. Saying a little prayer for you right now!!!!! A little angel will be sitting on your shoulder watching over you.
AJ, I am so glad to hear that you will be ‘good as new’. Especially for you in your line of work, your being able to see clearly and distinguish colors is vital. Praise the Lord from whom all blessings flow. This is absolutely wonderful news. 🙂 Thank you for sharing.
AJ, I’m so glad everything is working out just fine for you. Someone surely was watching over you…Thank God and all those Angels from above for doing so. Also, I would like to thank you for sharing the information it will be helpful since my husband and I both wear glasses. Ones eyes are truly a blessing and to be without would be a great loss. For everyone needs to treasure their sight and thank the lord for being so blessed. Take care.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I was told in the fall that I had the beginnings of cataracks. I went to my naturopath because she has helped me with Menier’s disease and she had me do a regemin of various eye drops. I don’t know if it is helping or not yet. The one thing I do know is that I finally got all the prednisone out of my body last fall after being off of it for a year and a half. Every time I went to the ear nose & throat Dr. he put me on prednisone until I finally refused and went with my naturopath full time for it. I am 58. I dropped 15 last fall because the prednisone was finally gone and would let my body stop bloating!!! Thank you. Kathy
oh AJ I am glad you had the courage to do this! my mum just had this last fall and she ever so grateful too.. she is a painter too (porcelain dolls) it is so hard when you cant do what you love because you cant see.. god is good. .. Blessings
dianalyn
Dear AJ,
I am so happy for you and your renewed sight! I will be praying that the 2nd surgery is just as much a success as the first.
My 75 year old mother had this same surgery in the fall of 2007 and she had worn thick glasses that looked like coke bottle bottoms since she was just a child. She still has to wear glasses but they are normal looking, no thick lenses now. They not only corrected the cateracts but also her other problems with vision. Now that I am getting older and have to use reading glasses myself, she can read the fine print for me which she couldn’t do before! It is amazing! Like you said the hardest part is the transition between the two surgeries. At least that is how it was for my mother.
Hugs!
AJ, that is wonderful news. What a precious gift our sight is! As the wife of a husband who is losing his vision from retinitis pigmentosa, I see what a terrorizing, frustrating, scary thing that blindness can be. He is 43 and can no longer do the things he loves.
The Bible verse about walking by faith, not by sight has been a verse to cling to during this process. It is my prayer that God will bring about a cure or healing for my husband too. I read the accounts of Jesus healing the blind and am so thankful for those being included in the Bible. Rejoice in His goodness and his gift of sight! I am rejoicing with you.
So glad to hear that you were able to get your sight restored!! God is so good to His children!!
AJ this has truly blessed my heart!! It is amazing to me to see how much wonderful art has come from your gifted hand, and it is thrilling to see the Lord´s protective and healing hand over you! Thank you for sharing your heart with us.
AJ that is wonderful news I have had both my eyes done and it is nice to see again
once they are done. Good luck in everything you do.
Amazing Grace was my mother’s favorite song…so it holds a special place in my heart. You’ve been touched by the Amazing Grace of God. I can’t imagine the wonderful work you will create, now that you can really see. 🙂