Thank you all so so much for all your encouragement and kind words yesterday regarding my father's vision issues. We saw the specialist, who was a total rock star (evidently he is extremely well regarded in his area of specialization). The procedure was a bit of an ordeal, particularly as my dad is 94 and has some mobility issues. He was a trooper however and wanted to forge ahead and get both eyes treated in one go, rather than just doing one and returning another time to do the second.
Prior to the actual procedure, there was over two hours of testing and waiting for various medications to take effect. The actual injections of medication into his eyes took mere seconds. And isn't that a good thing? Just imagine. I found my sandals exceptionally engrossing while my father was getting the injections. He will have to have these injections on a monthly basis for the foreseeable future. Dad was pretty wiped out after we got back home, but was fortified by some leftover cake and ice cream. I gave him some soothing eye drops and left him settled in his favorite chair.
The doctor was very informative about the disease "wet" macular degeneration. Ten years ago it was considered a pretty dire sentence for vision loss. However, treatments have been developed and now that condition can be slowed and even improved upon. I am so grateful.
While we waited, I showed my dad the wonders of e-readers and the iPad. It turned out that with enlarging the font he was able to read fairly easily on the e-reader! He wanted to go buy an iPad immediately, but I think we may start him out with one of the larger Kindles. He will even be able to read his favorite magazine (The Economist) and his favorite newspapers.
Now let me tell you about the photo at the top of this blog post! Carolyn, an extremely generous reader of this blog sent it to me! Can you believe anyone would do such a lovely thing?? Quilters can just be the best people on earth. I am beyond thrilled. It is "Blue Barn", Frivols 12, which is extremely hard to come by. The fabric is a collection by Laundry Basket Quilts and the pattern is a simple stars design that I love. I think I may have to make it up in the very near future. Thank you Carolyn, from the bottom of my heart, for your kindness.
Wow! Yes, there is no more generous a group than quilting people-- I got my Frivols on eBay after the fact and I can vouch for the fact that #12 was both hard to find and one of my favorites.
Glad about your Dad. xox
Posted by: Carol D Duffy | July 17, 2020 at 08:22 AM
Oh I bet your dad will love a Kindle. I've had one since they came out! I love to read, but hate the books piling up. Now I can have them all on one handy place and don't have to leave home to get more! I'm glad he got through his treatments ok!...and congrats on your Frivols 12!
Posted by: Connie Morgan | July 17, 2020 at 08:54 AM
You are a good daughter. Not only would I be engrossed in my sandals but I would have to have the garbage can very close by. Glad you both got through it okay.
Posted by: Colleen | July 17, 2020 at 09:26 AM
Your Dad is a real trooper!
Posted by: Anita | July 17, 2020 at 09:28 AM
I'm glad to hear your dad was able to get the treatment and hopefully he will be reading again soon. I have also suffered some retinal problems in both eyes as well as cataracts and can tell you the joy of an e-reader! I was really unable to comfortably read a book but with the large font and backlighting I am now able to read again. In fact, I am just finishing This Must Be the Place on your recommendation and have loved it. Thank you so much for your blog.
Posted by: Beth F | July 17, 2020 at 09:45 AM
So happy to hear things went well with your dad and hopefully in the future for him. I have always said that quilters are the best and come thru at the most stressful times of life. Enjoy your new Frivols !
Posted by: gailss1 | July 17, 2020 at 09:54 AM
What great news about your dad and a Frivols too! That's like icing on the cake! Hope your dad continues to get better, it's so hard seeing their health decline especially when they're so used to being independent.
Posted by: Anita | July 17, 2020 at 09:56 AM
I am so happy to hear it went OK for your Dad and it is over. THat sounds really stressful for him and you as well. Can't wait to see your "new"frivols " made up! It looks cute. Have a nice weekend Nicole.
Mary
Posted by: Mary Kastner | July 17, 2020 at 10:09 AM
That's great news about your dad. So happy to hear the treatments went well. Hopefully he'll have continued success. If you take him next month, you should probably wear a different pair of sandals to study!! =:)
Posted by: Karen | July 17, 2020 at 10:12 AM
lol @ "found my sandals exceptionally engrossing". I am so glad he did well with the procedure. What a very long day.
Posted by: Ina | July 17, 2020 at 10:20 AM
You might be interested in this website: https://www.fightingblindness.org/diseases/age-related-macular-degeneration
Glad to hear there are new treatments for your dad. It's great that he can read with a Kindle.
My dad lost his vision in his 70s when there was little treatment available. The only reading machines were the footprint of a sit down mid-arm quilting machine. He's 97 now and almost totally blind.
Posted by: Barbara Bennett | July 17, 2020 at 10:27 AM
What tremendously good news about your father's condition... and his enthusiasm about a Kindle or iPad. Technology can be incredibly frustrating sometimes, but then you see how it can change the world for a person and realize those frustrations are small by comparison. I should also note that I would have also been rather engrossed in my sandals or the pin dots in the ceiling or, pretty much anything but the procedure. But you hung in there and got him on the road to enjoying much of life again. That is commendable.
Posted by: Robby | July 17, 2020 at 10:28 AM
The news about your father's appointment is very encouraging! And his enthusiasm about a Kindle or iPad is wonderful! Studying your sandals...I would have needed a nurse from passing out on the spot! You're a good daughter...but we knew that already! And, how kind of your reader to send the hard-to-find Frivols! That's definitely a generous act of kindness! Stay well!
Posted by: Jan | July 17, 2020 at 01:19 PM
How wonderful that your dad might be able read again! Libraries have great selections of ebook sometimes, I’m noticing especially since Covid the variety is amazing. So, free books! Technology can be amazing.
Posted by: Anne Simonot | July 17, 2020 at 03:07 PM
I am so relieved that your father was able to get treatment and hope that he responds really, really well. I love the idea of giving him a Kindle. I hope he enjoys it! Please take care of yourself, too!
Posted by: Margaret | July 17, 2020 at 04:40 PM
I am so glad your dad's treatment has started. Sincere best wishes for his continued improvement.
Lesley
Posted by: Lesley Duncan | July 18, 2020 at 01:38 AM
Medicine and technology...a wonderful combination.
Hugs
Posted by: Pam O | July 18, 2020 at 05:44 AM
These days we are finding so much disappointment in medicine and its delivery because so much is unknown and disconnected. So happy you and your Dad have had a revelation and life can go on albeit with a new normal. This must have been such so exciting (once the shots are over.) Sorry for the grim reality of the shots, but most patients say they are not the big deal I ever thought. The Frivols has found its home. I know you will use it well and its giver is a star.
Posted by: Stephani in N. TX | July 18, 2020 at 07:26 AM
I am so glad your dad is being treated and did well. My dad went through the shots too. I am so grateful that the wet MD has a cure. Every older person should get their eyes checked often and use an Amsler grid. (downloadable). I am amazed that there is so little that people know about ARMD. Until it hits close to home we just kind of don't hear about it. Big hugs to your dad and you. Oh, the Frivols. Wonderful. People are good and fabric is fun.
Posted by: Taria | July 18, 2020 at 07:46 AM
You don't know how much this post has meant to our family. My father-in-law was in one of the earliest trials to find any way to slow or improve wet macular degeneration. He went through a lot at that time, and it ended up making his vision much worse which could never be corrected. It's wonderful to know that his loss helped to make this future possible.
Posted by: Alice R. | July 19, 2020 at 06:17 AM
So glad to hear about your fathers treatment. I've 2 friends getting same treatment. They are an Opthomologist and his wife.
What is the name of the quilt under the frivols box. I like the design. I thought it would be easy. Thanks for writing this blog.
Posted by: Lynda Korn | July 19, 2020 at 02:04 PM