Eventually sunlight evaporates the ink of pre-dawn as I lie awake. I don\u2019t think I slept at all. We shower and dress and catch the 1 train to our destination. We enter the tiny clinic. Introduce ourselves and fill in the forms. So many forms. After pre admission checks, scans and a thousand questions, we get to see the doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Nissen. Michael is his first name, introduces himself. He is a gregarious man, bald, chubby and in love with surfing in Australia and VB! Although he\u2019s never been nor tasted VB. We chat about beaches, surfing, drinking and Aussie culture. He\u2019s easy to talk to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then he gets down to work. From the outset my confidence level increases. This is a man who knows his shit. He has all the whiz bang tools, including a mini ultrasound device that he runs over my eye. Even Mardi can tell what\u2019s going on the image is so clear. She describes it as a spinnaker on a yacht flapping around in the wind. Dr Nissen agrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He then confirms I\u2019ll need surgery. He\u2019ll do it tomorrow. There is no hurry. The damage is done. Its stable. Sit tight for 24 hours and let\u2019s get this fixed for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mardi then asks about costs, insurance. She asks if the surgery is expense, like three or five thousand dollars???<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Nissen, says: \u201cNo nothing like that. It\u2019ll be around $30-$35,000.\u201d He says this without batting an eyelid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Without missing a beat Mardi says, \u201cWe don\u2019t care, whatever it takes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you have insurance?\u201d he asks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, we do thankfully. But will the surgery be covered? We have some work to do. Dr Nissen\u2019s team prepare some paperwork for us for the insurers and book me in for surgery the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rest of the day I see my wife go to work. She is a marvel. Phone calls, emails, research, negotiating with banks to transfer money in case the insurance doesn\u2019t come through. I\u2019m not much help. I can\u2019t see to do anything, I have no functional vision at present. So I let her do what she does best, organise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We venture out for some dinner and a wander around, just to break the monotony of the day and try and live normally for a while, knowing that tomorrow will answer some questions for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That night I call my parents and tell them the news. They offer to send money, dad even says he will jump on a plane and visit us! Parents will do anything for their kids, it\u2019s a measure of how strong and important family is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I end the call with tears in my eyes. I don\u2019t know what is around the corner for me. My life may change forever. It then hits me that I don\u2019t have a job either? Who is going to employ an almost 50 year old blind person! What can I do, what will I be able to do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mardi as always is optimistic and reminds me that Dr Nissen said he has done hundreds of these surgeries. It buoys me a bit and I give her a hug. She has been so strong, so resilient. I don\u2019t think I could have done this on my own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n