True Grit

Being dead sucks more than losing an eye, but losing an eye still sucks. It's for sure now that Nick will not regain sight in his left eye, but he's had a month to get used to the idea and is handling that part well. Although it means an end to his plans to fly in Europe, he'll still be able to fly in the the States so this is not career-ending. At the moment he just wants it out because it will mean relief for both eyes and allow him to start living more normally again.

I asked the girls how they were feeling about it all and Acacia replied, "Can you bring the eye home?" Nick told her he'd inquire about that, adding that it would be easier to make eyeball soup for dinner with an eyeball. Yum.

We had thought this operation could be done here in Durango because, as Nick said, "All they need is a spoon to scoop it out." And the eye doc said he could pretty much do that, but then none of the muscles and other intricate workings would function for the glass eye. The aim is to have the prosthetic eye move with the natural one.

So... back in the car, but hopefully this time to Albuquerque, home to a skilled ophthalmologic surgeon, not to mention half the distance to Denver. Sadly, it's the insurance company who'll ultimately decide where we go; health is, of course, all about profit margins. Not sure if they'll get us in this week, seeing as it's already Thursday, but if not, then early next week. The operation itself doesn't take too long, but the whole process will take a few months I believe. They need to put in a phony fake first, to retain the socket's shape while swelling goes down, then get measured for the glass eye, and I don't know how long it takes for them to create the custom eye. Really, I have no idea what I'm talking about. Unfortunately by the time this is all done, I'm going to know way more than I ever wanted to about poking an eye out.