I'm a cyber diver now

renoun · Post by **renoun** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 7:08 pm

Thursday was my big day and I got a cadaver cornea transplanted into my left eye. Day surgery, been home for a couple of days now and I'm finally out and about some. Today has been the first day I could read or use a computer for any amount of time but improvement has been rapid. I haven't talked to DAN yet my my surgeon thinks I should plan on being dry for at least three months.

LCF · Post by **LCF** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 7:11 pm

Well, it's sad to be dry for a while, but I'll bet it's good to see! Glad the transplant went well, and the water will still be there when you're ready for it.

CaptnJack · Post by **CaptnJack** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 7:35 pm

You go Ross! Get well soon

2loud4u · Post by **2loud4u** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 10:02 pm

Hope to see you back in the water soon Ross!!

Brendan

Joshua Smith · Post by **Joshua Smith** » Sun Nov 14, 2010 9:41 am

Here's hoping for a speedy and complete recovery, Ross.

Scubak · Post by **Scubak** » Sun Nov 14, 2010 9:53 am

That is fantastic! I hope you have a speedy recovery!
Kirsten

Dusty2 · Post by **Dusty2** » Sun Nov 14, 2010 5:03 pm

Nothing so presious as sight! Listen to the doc. The fishies will be waiting in three months too

ArcticDiver · Post by **ArcticDiver** » Sun Nov 14, 2010 5:40 pm

Congratulations!

Many of us have been grounded for good reason. The water was still there when we went back and it didn't take long for the fun to return. In the meantime who knows what kind of interesting things you will find, eh?

ktb · Post by **ktb** » Sun Nov 14, 2010 8:11 pm

Very cool! (The eyesight getting better, not the cyberdiving.) Just think of all the great stuff you'll see when you return in 3 months.

Blaiz · Post by **Blaiz** » Sun Nov 14, 2010 10:25 pm

I'm glad you got the operation Ross. Here's to a swift and uncomplicated recovery!

renoun · Post by **renoun** » Tue Nov 16, 2010 12:59 pm

So there I was making breakfast this morning. Close right eye, squint a little, and ...

I can read the clock on the microwave!!!

BDub · Post by **BDub** » Tue Nov 16, 2010 1:19 pm

Awesome, Ross.

Glad to hear you're making quick progress

Norris · Post by **Norris** » Tue Nov 16, 2010 4:05 pm

renoun wrote:So there I was making breakfast this morning. Close right eye, squint a little, and ...

I can read the clock on the microwave!!!
Still blinks 12:00 just like always...yayyyy

Fixed that for you

Glad the recovery is showing Ross, hang in there buddy!

Dashrynn · Post by **Dashrynn** » Tue Nov 16, 2010 4:29 pm

Was this similar to laser eye surgery. I had prk surgery and I don't regret any moment of the wait. Hope to see you diving again soon Ross

renoun · Post by **renoun** » Tue Nov 16, 2010 4:59 pm

Dashrynn wrote:Was this similar to laser eye surgery.

Not really, they cut out part of my eye and stitched in a replacement from a deceased doner as illustrated below while I was under general anesthesia.

More detailed information about corneal transplant surgery.

I'm fortunate to have received a donated organ. While I'm not aware of a shortage of corneas for transplant there are many other organs and tissues that are in short supply. Please take the time to talk with your family if you would consider being an organ doner in the event of your untimely demise and if you are a Washington resident please use the official online donor registry at donatelifetoday.com/

Blaiz · Post by **Blaiz** » Tue Nov 16, 2010 9:04 pm

renoun wrote:I'm fortunate to have received a donated organ. While I'm not aware of a shortage of corneas for transplant there are many other organs and tissues that are in short supply. Please take the time to talk with your family if you would consider being an organ doner in the event of your untimely demise and if you are a Washington resident please use the official online donor registry at donatelifetoday.com/

+++++++1

Organ donation is a far, far underutilized process which can give so much good amongst a bad event.

ktb · Post by **ktb** » Wed Nov 17, 2010 8:19 am

Blaiz wrote:
renoun wrote:I'm fortunate to have received a donated organ. While I'm not aware of a shortage of corneas for transplant there are many other organs and tissues that are in short supply. Please take the time to talk with your family if you would consider being an organ doner in the event of your untimely demise and if you are a Washington resident please use the official online donor registry at donatelifetoday.com/

+++++++1

Organ donation is a far, far underutilized process which can give so much good amongst a bad event.

+++1 from me too. I've never understood why someone wouldn't donate--it's not like you're going to need your organs after you die!!

CaptnJack · Post by **CaptnJack** » Wed Nov 17, 2010 11:23 am

ktb wrote:
Blaiz wrote:
renoun wrote:I'm fortunate to have received a donated organ. While I'm not aware of a shortage of corneas for transplant there are many other organs and tissues that are in short supply. Please take the time to talk with your family if you would consider being an organ doner in the event of your untimely demise and if you are a Washington resident please use the official online donor registry at donatelifetoday.com/
+++++++1

Organ donation is a far, far underutilized process which can give so much good amongst a bad event.
+++1 from me too. I've never understood why someone wouldn't donate--it's not like you're going to need your organs after you die!!

In addition to donating organs you don't need, why not agree to donate tissues which are replaceable?

Bone marrow or stem cells are completely renewable in a healthy person. But for someone with cancer or some other diseases a bone marrow or stem cell transplant is often their only hope of survival. And many (particularly mixed race) people die waiting for a suitable match. You can request a kit by mail and send them a cheek swab to register your basic tissue type. They will call you for further testing if you are a tentative match.
http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/index.html?src=tabjoin

kat · Post by **kat** » Wed Nov 17, 2010 1:48 pm

i always wondered about the marrow/tissue donation, would you have to pay out of pocket if you are uninsured? or does the other persons insurance cover you?

spatman · Post by **spatman** » Wed Nov 17, 2010 3:10 pm

kat wrote:i always wondered about the marrow/tissue donation, would you have to pay out of pocket if you are uninsured? or does the other persons insurance cover you?

actually there are places that will pay you to donate marrow. a friend down in oakland helped pay his way through a couple of semesters of school by donating marrow every couple of months.

ktb · Post by **ktb** » Wed Nov 17, 2010 5:39 pm

spatman wrote:
kat wrote:i always wondered about the marrow/tissue donation, would you have to pay out of pocket if you are uninsured? or does the other persons insurance cover you?
actually there are places that will pay you to donate marrow. a friend down in oakland helped pay his way through a couple of semesters of school by donating marrow every couple of months.

Isn't donating marrow quite painful?

spatman · Post by **spatman** » Wed Nov 17, 2010 7:46 pm

ktb wrote:
spatman wrote:
kat wrote:i always wondered about the marrow/tissue donation, would you have to pay out of pocket if you are uninsured? or does the other persons insurance cover you?
actually there are places that will pay you to donate marrow. a friend down in oakland helped pay his way through a couple of semesters of school by donating marrow every couple of months.
Isn't donating marrow quite painful?

He said he was sore for a few days afterward, but I don't think the process was too bad.

renoun · Post by **renoun** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:38 pm

I saw my surgeon this afternoon. He removed a stitch from the graft for the fist time. Many stitches remain but this one was loose so he gave me a couple of eye drops to numb my eye and snipped it out free hand looking through a microscope. I'm on a few days of antibiotic drops but once I'm done with them he said that I'm free to resume diving and other rigorous activities. Some time next week I'll be able to end my nearly five month dry spell.

ktb · Post by **ktb** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:42 pm

Wahoo!!! Awesome news. So, so happy for you.

Penopolypants · Post by **Penopolypants** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:49 pm

That's great news!!!

Northwest Dive Club