Change

Why do older people hate change? One reason could be they look in a mirror and see their body changing and they don't like what they see.

My experience in Fuchs dystrophy

 

   I always prided myself on having perfect 20-20 vision. My first indication that I may have a problem was when I was having a physical to join the Marine Corps when I was 19. The examining Doctor asked me if my eyes have always been like that and I replied yes not bothering to ask why he wanted to know. The second time was when I was in my forties and went for a regular eye exam. I got a phone call from my eye doctor three or four days after my appointment and over the phone he told me I will someday be   unable to see it shocked me so much I couldn’t think of anything to say.

    My vision continued to be fine but in my later 40’s I required bi focal glasses to read. I started going to different eye doctors to obtain different opinions. My eyes continued to require stronger lenses over the years. Then in 2012 I went to a well known ophthalmologist he said I had Fuchs dystrophy and that I also  needed cataract surgery he said he could do the cataract surgery which would help my sight some but it also would likely cause the Fuchs to worsen. If I did nothing my sight would continue to proceed to a point that I could no longer read or drive and my only recourse would be a cornea transplant. The good news was that one of the world’s finest cornea surgeons lived just up the road in Portland a doctor Terry. He said he could arrange an appointment for me if I liked. I asked him if he thought I could possibly have cornea replacement and cataract surgery at the same time. He told me that might be a possibility I said go ahead and arrange it please.

    My appointment with Dr. Terry after a extended eye exam he told me I was a prime candidate for the surgery and they could do the cataract at the same time. The arrangements were set and my first surgery was on my right eye the one determined to be the worse.

    The old technique was the removal of the entire cornea and replacing it with a donor cornea and stitching it in to place. The procedure of Dr. Terry was to strip an inside layer off and replace it with a layer stripped from a donor cornea. This procedure did not require stitches so healing would be much faster. I had the right eye done 4/23/2013 and left done 6/11/23 the worst part was the requirement to lay flat on  your back and look at ceiling for 24 hours so draft would adhere and also the anti rejection drops and the antibiotic drops.

      My right eye surgery was amazing successful and also but left eye was much slower with some double vision that did eventually go away.

    I volunteered to be part of a study to determine if donor corneas could be preserved for use up to 14 days. One eye was done with a cornea of 7 days the other of 14 days even Dr. Terry knows which one was used. The study was for 3 years and extended to 4. At my next yearly appointment I will be told how the study turned out.

 

Farm in summer 2011

Summer past

Snow in Spring

The date on this picture is incorrect it is the second day of spring 2012.

Latest on Arm

My right arm is coming alone nicely have therapy two times a week done with first week. My arm wasn't hurting until I started therapy no pain no gain I guess. Still don't have full range of motion that is what I hope to get back we will see.

Play Field of United Leaders

This is schematic of the Playing field of 1951 united leaders pinball machine showing ball switches 1 to 25. The 1951 United Leaders is a Bingo type pinball machine with three cards of 25 each. Each card has the numbers in different order. You can play one card at a time or two or three which gives you more possibilities to win but you can only win on one card at a time. You have five balls to play and three in a line will win plays four will win more and five in a row will win the most. It is a lot of fun to play and you can learn to direct the balls to the holes you want by gently bouncing the machine but you must be careful not to hard or you will experience a tilt which will end the game. Their are no flippers this machine and those similar were used for gambling because you could cash the replays in for cash.

Spare Parts

Here are some spare parts for my project pinball machine don't see any bulbs had to order some.

United Leader Pinball machine 1951 model

The way this machine is suppose to work is you get three in a row and you win you get four in a row and win more plays you get five and you win even more can be up or down but not across. You can only win on one card. It takes nickles to operate. The machine has a tilt so you can't get to rough with banging it around. Right now there are several things not working on this machine not only will it not score when you win some of the lights will not light up.

Broken Arm Report

This is the latest on my arm my cast is gone praise the Lord it feels good to be free from that and the itching that goes along with it. I am signed up for therapy which will start in April for two weeks so I can get free use of it since I haven't used it for six weeks. Not able to lift any weight but able to drive now which gives me some freedom. Will try to be more responsible and careful so I don't have to do this again. My ribs still hurt a little from my fall but they are coming along.

United Leader Pinball machine

I have started on a new venture I have purchased an antique pinball machine that needs to be restored. It is a 1951 model Leader made by United manufacturing company of Chicago. It is all there but is not working at this present time. If there is anyone out their on the World Wide Webb that may have a service manual on this machine I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. It is quite complicated machine and I need all the help I can get. If worse comes to shove I will have to draw my own schematics which will take some time but be retired I do have time and I am a pretty patient person generally but I would prefer doing it the easy way if possible.

After Surgery

Here is my latest x-ray you can see the screw clearly also the staples which are not there any more they were remove yesterday. I am mending nicely and my doctor wants to see me again in two weeks. Would sure like to be doing some things outside on sunny days.

Sparky Whines

Sparky writes it is hard to post now since I broke my right arm and can use only my left. So now I use the hunt and peck method which is much time consuming. I am not complaining or whining all though this may sound like it. I know it could have been a lot worse and there are people who are in a far more difficult situation than I find my self in. I am giving the good Lord the credit for watching out for me and keeping me from breaking my neck. I have discovered that when I do something stupid it effects not only my self but my loved ones ,family and friends. Since I broke my arm I can no longer even feed my best friend Bonnie but my wife now has to among dozens of other chores which were my responsibility.

T his is a x-ray of Sparkys arm before his surgery he now has a screw that holds the broken bone together.

Bonnie is now upset with Sparky because he won't take her for a walk or play. It seems that Sparky was trimming a maple tree in his front yard and fell off a ladder and broke his right arm. Sparky was working on removing the tree because it causes such a mess with it's seed pods and leaves. But as Sparky seems to always do he got carried away in stead of waiting for his brothers help he fell about ten feet while cutting on a large branch with a chain saw. He landed on his back on several chunks of wood knocking his wind out and breaking his right arm by his elbow. Now not only is Bonnie mad so is Sparky's wife.

Mother's Day 2009

Mother's where would we be without mothers. I can only wonder what the world would be like without their influence in all our lives. First of all they give us life by bringing us into the world. Most of us come into the world head first a few like my self come here feet first I don't know if I wanted to test things out first and if I didn't care for it I could chose to stay in that nice warm and comfortable place a little longer or not. Something like testing the old swimming hole with your toes to see if the water is warm enough to swim I just don't know. I think that must have been a little hard on my mother which I hope she forgave me for. I think she did because she was a loving and caring mother who all ready had three other children she was caring for at the time. I was a war baby born in the second world war at a time when America did not know for sure it could win fighting two world powers. When I was born even sugar was being rationed so the troops would have enough of what they needed. Having one more mouth to feed my family was given another ration of sugar because of me. I hope that helped a little. Mother's are the glue that holds families together they teach us all most every thing we learn in those early years. They feed us, dress us, care for us when we are sick and punish us when we miss behave. So we need to honor them from the bottom of our heart not only with words but our actions.

Now if your mother is still alive remember her on her special day call her, write her a letter, a card and show and tell her you love her. If she has passed on you can honor her by being the person she would be proud of.

i

Mom and Dad

Mom and Dad celebrating their 80 th birthday at Cascade Grill, Albany Oregon

Buffet Time For Seniors

With all the excitement of feeding time at the zoo the senior buffet is packed with much more. The anticipation and the planning that goes into such an event may compare with the planning that astronauts must endure on a trip to the moon. No details must be over looked every thing has to go off without a hick up. If a breakfast buffet is on tap the alarm clocks must be precisely set then double checked and then checked once again the night before the main event. The next morning after getting up critical attention has to be give that little food is consumed at home maybe just a swallow of hot coffee to keep ones mind at top performance. All medications must be carefully considered nothing must hinder the senior once they arrive at the buffet hall.

This is Valentines Day Buffet for the Seniors a very special day if you have been married for 50 years you get a free breakfast Oh Boy, Oh Boy!!! There is nothing a Senior likes better then a buffet and a free one is even better. One would take his life in ones hands if you would dare to get between a senior citizen and his or hers buffet be warned it is no laughing matter people have died for far less.

Monte Maria Church (Mexico City)

On the left in this picture is Pastor Arelio who was the founder of this church. He was a Catholic priest until the Catholic church kicked him out for his evangelistic activities. The person on the right is Pastor Roberto who was chosen to fill Pastor Arelio's spot when he passed on. This particular photo was taken during an outdoor evangelistic meeting in Mexico City. Notice how the hands in the photo form the symbol of the cross.