Saturday, March 14, 2009

Handsome Bob


Some of you know this story-others don't but it is worth telling again.

I met Handsome Bob when he came in to see me about a research study. He was not able to participate in that certain study but I asked if he would be interested in another study we had and he said Yes.

Bob has been blind since birth. He is currently 61 years old. He had been institutionalized for 8 years at the Indianapolis school for the blind. He has a cane and his clear point of focal vision HAD been two inches from his face.

As part of the study, he had to have an exam. Dr. Eric Weyer told Bob about a surgery that he might be a candidate for. Bob ultimately was not able to participate in my study but we were able to get him in to see Dr. Tharp about the possible surgery. Bob had his first surgery about four weeks ago. His vision in his left eye is now 20/70 uncorrected.

When I talked to Bob for the first time after his surgery he told me "I never knew the sky was so blue."" I am sitting in my living room watching the squirrels play in the tree." Prior to the surgery Bob said the squirrels would be a brown mass. He couldn't see their hands, faces etc....

Bob is going to have the second surgery once his left eye is completely healed. I/We are so happy that God had our paths intersect. So often we want something and we want it now! But ultimately everything is up to our Master and he will decide when the time is right, not us. Sixty one years of blindness and now Handsome Bob is able to see. We don't know the plans He has for us but we can be assured they will be GOOD!

I bought Bob a bumper sticker at The Vineyard and it said "I was blind but now I see. John 9:25"

Sunday, March 1, 2009

The **F** word

Picture this: a seven year old boy locked in his bedroom with the toychest blocking the door. He is crying and says " I can't believe you said the **F** word to me!" Sob,Sob.
I replied "What **F** word?"
"You know the F word?"
"What word?"
"The FR word"
"WHAT FR WORD?"
"The FRE word!"
"JUST TELL ME WHAT WORD"
"Freakin'-I can't believe you said that to me.

Yes I admit it! I said to my son "You are acting FREAKIN' ridiculous." This whole disagreement lasted about 15 minutes and was all because he wouldn't read the title of the story that he had to read. Sometimes motherhood can be so challenging.