I've waited four years, two months and two weeks for this gift. Tuesday afternoon, it finally came. I had my six month follow up with my neuro-ophthalmic retina specialist, for my eye. As many know, I had a hole that was leaking brain fluid into my eye. My specialist did everything in his power to save my vision, fix the hole and avoid brain surgery. After a year and a half of procedures, surgeries and numerous medications he was able to close the hole and save my vision. For the last three years, it has been a waiting game. The fluid that was left over from the leakage needed time to re-absorb, the "seal" needed time to strengthen and heal. What I did not know, until this week, was that the success rate for this type of issue is only 5%. That is IF the patient is willing to under go all that I did... Pure hell on earth and the worst imaginable head aches you could ever attempt to fathom. It makes migraines seem like a paper cut... So IF the patient agrees, then the percentage is even less of doctors willing to attempt all that my specialist did on me. The success rate of saving the patients vision is minute, avoiding brain surgery is minute and the over all success of the hole sealing and staying sealed is minute.
Tuesday, with giddy confidence, my specialist told me. "We did it! The fluid is completely gone. The scar/seal over the hole is fully healed, strong and secure. Your vision is better than it was, even before this happened. Your pressure is exactly what it should be, for the first time in four years. Your eye is perfect!" I was speechless!! He proceeded to tell me that I didn't have to be careful anymore... I can ride roller coasters again, I can sing without fear of it reopening (just praying for God to finish the healing of my chords), I can "Resume my normal everyday life, without fear." Did you hear that???? Without fear! The freedom that comes with that phrase, it's no longer a distraction. It's no longer sitting in the back of my mind (literally), no longer a scare tactic the enemy can use to disqualify me. No more fear. My miracle, my healing is finally here. A few truths God told me and continues to speak into my spirit "Prophecy takes time. Find Joy in the Journey. Embrace the pain of the process." Do I still have a chronic illness, yes. I'm holding on to the Promise that I will be "restored and made whole". I don't know when that will happen but this miracle has, it has renewed my faith and it has made me even more dangerous to the enemy. "No weapon formed against me will prosper." I encourage you, hold on to those promises, even if it's been years. God is faithful!!
On a side note- my specialist is now using my case in a petition to another doctor who himself has a similar issue but is afraid to move forward with treatment. My case was so extreme, my doctor feels confident he will be able to save his collegues vision as well as his collegues career... his collegue is also an eye specialist.
