Hi,
When we took Doogie back to the eye specialist he confirmed that though Doogie's vision is 20/200, he has NO night vision. We'd noticed him bumping into things--walls, etc.--even when the lights where on. Dr. Lauer said that Doogie only has vision whenever everything is brightly lit up.
We return to Portland, OR. (a four hour drive each way) on June 12th for another evaluation as a prelude to having the oil (from the retina repair) removed from his right eye AND having his right lense (which has a cataract) removed. The right lense will be replaced with an artifical lense.
The left retina has re-detached but, since he has no usable vision in that eye, the doctors have no intention of doing further work on that eye UNLESS Doogie begins having pain, seeping, etc. from that eye.
Doogie WILL be going to Blind Camp, July 13th-18th, in Salem, Oregon. He will be in a group of eight--boys and girls--well supervised, of course. They will be able to send us Braille notes, etc. Doogie is thriving in Braille and learning the keyboard (with Braille dots on top of the keys).
We're planning to go camping and fishing this week-end (Doogie is off on Friday and Monday). As of yet, Doogie doesn't care for fishing but LOVES the evening campfire and my campfire stories :) of 'Bloody Bones'.
I enjoy Al fixing the meals (and me only helping out for a change), Al's much improved disposition, our 'sight-seeing' and playing with Doogie :)!
I love the sight of waterfalls, the rippling water, snow covered mountains, the wild animals and the serenity of camping. Even, if, as they did on one occasion, the raccoons get into our foodstuff, (when we camped we tents)it's cool; we've a 24' RV now. Sun poisoning often makes me look like one of those ladies with saucers in both my upper and lower lips but boy does that help me slim down :)! I always say, there's silver in every cloud.
Ya'll are in my thoughts. Wish you were here :)!
Love,
Sandy