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Friend just buggered himself up and is now practically blind

88 replies

Rhubarb · 16/09/2007 20:20

A close friend of both mine and dh's has this eye condition which was threatening to make him slowly blind. A few years ago he had a cornea transplant on his best eye, the other was deemed too far gone to operate on. It was a success and he was able to pass his driving test (something he was told he'd never be able to do) and he's got a good job, own flat, etc etc. He's also very fit and has done the 3 peaks with dh and they were due to cycle coast to coast next weekend.

But on Friday he got into a drunken argument with his friend, who punched him in the eye, dislodging the transplanted cornea.

He was rushed into hospital and they operated, but it was not a success. He can now barely see at all, he can just make out shapes. He's had to move back in with his parents as he needs help and support now.

We are desperately worried about him. Only time will tell what the final damage is, the doctors are waiting for the eye to heal before considering another operation. The thought of him being dependant for the rest of his life is just awful! He's always had such shit luck, and I feel so sorry for the guy.

Please spare a thought for him. Ta.

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TnOgu · 16/09/2007 20:21

Thoughts and prayers...

littlelapin · 16/09/2007 20:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cornsilk · 16/09/2007 20:21

That's terrible - poor guy.

Twiglett · 16/09/2007 20:23

oh god poor guy

and poor bloke who punched him too

that's sad

Rhubarb · 16/09/2007 20:23

Thanks. He's such a nice guy too, stupid, but he's got a good heart and would do anything for anyone.

He's one of our best mates. We're going to see him next weekend. Feel bloody helpless though. When I said "we'll see you at the weekend" he replied "well you'll see me but I won't see you!"

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Rhubarb · 16/09/2007 20:23

Bloke who punched him is beside himself. What a thing to have to live with!

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LoveMyGirls · 16/09/2007 20:24

Thats awful. I hope they can do somethign for him.

I had a friend who got into this situation too, as far as i know he is still living at home.

He was diabetic and refused to stop drinking after his gf of 5yrs left him. He had a job, car etc but due to silly drinking he is now registered blind

SaintGeorge · 16/09/2007 20:25

Shit Rhubs, that's awful, so sad.

My (heathen) thoughts are with him.

Isababel · 16/09/2007 20:26

It hurts just thinking about it. I'm really sorry for both of them but hope things get at least a little bit better when the eye heals.

Flamesparrow · 16/09/2007 20:27

Oh poor guy

Rhubarb · 16/09/2007 20:27

We're hoping like mad they can do something about it. No-one is talking about the future in a negative way because it doesn't bear thinking about.

He's a very independant guy, loves to travel, loves having his own place. This is just his worst nightmare. He doesn't even get on with his folks that well. He's gonna hate all of this!

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turquoisenights · 16/09/2007 20:33

i hope he will get better soon...

wannaBe · 16/09/2007 20:38

hope that things improve for him once the eye heals.

But if not it does not need to be the end of his world, and there is no reason on earth why he will have to be dependent for the rest of his life, if he is determined then I can promise you that.

Please feel free to email me if I can offer any helpsupport, [email protected]

tigermoth · 16/09/2007 20:40

what awful luck. I hope he has lots of good friends, like you, who can rally round him while he waits for the doctors' verdict.

Ulysees · 16/09/2007 20:44

Very sad, praying that he gets a miracle and the doctors can do something for him.

Wallace · 16/09/2007 20:48

how awful

If things don't improve he might find this guy inspirational www.nosightnofear.com/

Rhubarb · 16/09/2007 20:58

Cheers guys. I'll give him this info in case of worst diagnoses. Atm I think he just wants to cling onto the hope that they can still do something.

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Wallace · 16/09/2007 21:16

Poor bugger, positive thoughts his way..hope time helps and they can do something for him xx

Rhubarb · 18/09/2007 14:05

The eye doctor has looked at him again and says that so long as he doesn't get the eye infected, they may be able to have another go at the op.
So better news!

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LoveMyGirls · 18/09/2007 18:50

Thats brilliant news Rhubs!!!! Fingers crossed for him!

Wallace · 19/09/2007 07:35

great news

MorticiasMother · 08/10/2007 20:52

Thought I'd give this update, not so good.

Well bad news. He was rushed to casualty last weekend in serious pain and with his eye bleeding badly. He's been 3 weeks now living with his parents and not seeing. His medicine was making him throw up and very very tired. They took him off it for a while but because of infection and the pain he is in, he's having to take it again. They will have to operate but they were hoping the inflammation and bleeding would stop before they attempted this.

His next appointment is in a week.

We've sent him some talking books and we call every week. Just hoping he can bear a few more weeks of this.

CantSleepWontSleep · 08/10/2007 20:56

how terribly terribly sad.

snowleopard · 08/10/2007 21:02

Your poor friend - wishing him the best.

But... I have two blind friends and they are both very independent (admittedly one is blind since birth and one since the age of 7, but you can learn to deal with it). They both have their own homes and jobs and are in relationships, one has a child. One has a guide dog, one doesn't but they both do fine. Please encourage your friend not to give up hope if it seems he won't get his sight back - yes it will be hard but he can be everything he wants to be.

MorticiasMother · 17/10/2007 20:53

Update for those people still kindly keeping friend in their thoughts.

He saw consultant again last Monday, the news was not good. The consultant said they didn't know what state his lens was in or indeed, where in his eye it was. They are also concerned that his optic nerves have been damaged. His eye is still too raw to be operated on so it will be at least 2 weeks before that decision is made. He'll need 2 operations at least and they doubt that his sight will ever be the same, they now think he has permanent damage.

They can try to operate on the other eye which was previously his bad one, but hopes are not high for the success of this either.

So he's back on the drugs that are making him ill and tired, he's fed up and sounds more depressed than I've ever heard him before.

We've ordered him 2 sets of talking books from Amazon but because he is served by the Merseyside Post Office, the feckers are on an unofficial strike and he hasn't received them yet. Any ideas as to what we can take him when we visit this weekend?