Remember that nursery rhyme "Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye"? Well, it seems that somewhere along they way I may have broken a childhood promise to one of my long lost friends (sorry!).
Yesterday, my doctors stuck a needle in my eye! The numbed it first, of course, but it still is an odd feeling to have... a needle in your eye. It's not something I recommend trying at home, or anywhere for that matter.
The needle delivered some great medicine to my bleeding eye, however. A drug called Avastin - created to treat colon, lung and breast cancer - blocks a protein call called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), essentially preventing the growth of new blood vessel growth where it is injected. COOL!!!
I received a significantly smaller dose of this drug, of course, and hopefully it will stop the recurrent bleeding within my eye. Until then, the doctors can't see in to evaluate the health of my eye or success of the surgery and I can't see out! Needless to say, I hope this stuff works!
I'll return to the doctor next Monday (after a great weekend and show with the Westminster Chorus and our Fantasy Quartet of Joe Connelly, Jeff Oxley, Tony Derosa and Tim Waurick!!) after a week of, God willing, improvement in my vision as the bleeding stops and old blood circulates out of the eye. If it does show improvement, I'll probably get another shot to keep the bleeding at bay. If not, we'll probably have to do the vitrectomy surgery again...
Thanks again for all the e-mails, letters, cards and teddy bears that somehow continue to make their way into my mailbox. I'm truly blessed to have such great friends. I hope you had a wonderful Easter and that I will see (!) you all in the very near future.
-Cory
PS. Sorry, no cool pictures this time around... I'll try and get some more next week!!
