Thank you Storm King and Stanley house. I’ve loved being a part of the process; it was a season to remember. Thanks to everyone who recognizes the wallpaper- it’s been a pleasure.
“The Game” has its last show tonight at Horizon Theatre. I wish I could be there to cheers in person. It was a privilege to work with so many amazing talented people and I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to provide them with their prop needs. Happy closing!
(in process photo)
This is a long post. But significant to me.
Today is the one year anniversary of me going to the eye doctor because my eye was bothering me and felt “strained”
I was told I had conjunctivitis and it should be gone in a few days to a week.
It kept getting worse.
I was referred to a corneal specialist who told me I had HSV even though I had never shown any other symptoms of having the virus.
This plus neurotrophic keratitis became the diagnosis for the next 8 months.
There were days where I was putting ~12 drops in my eye, most of which had to be refrigerated. Days where all I could do was listen to audiobooks. Weeks where I had to go to the eye doctor multiple times because of pain and my cornea developing scratches.
I was lucky to be living close to my supportive family.
The idea of a corneal transplant came up in January and I sought out a second option.
I had been misdiagnosed. I had Acanthamoeba Keratitis.
Rare, but being found more and more frequently. It can come from your contacts being exposed to tap water, even the simple act of showering in your contacts. One of the reasons I wasn’t tested for this infection early on was because I didn’t seem like I was in enough pain to warrant that diagnosis.
We immediately started a new treatment plan and today I am pain free. However, I still have a large scar on my cornea causing very poor eyesight in my left eye. It is scary when you can’t see the giant “E”.
I can drive again. I can work again. I can make collages and travel out of town without worry of a flare up.
It has been a very humbling experience and I am working with my eye doctor to hopefully bring more attention to this infection. I have learned to advocate for myself, to do my own research, and to get a second option (which is something a lot of people don’t have the access, opportunity, or ability to do).
My journey isn’t over, but these last few months have shown great strides in improvement and the hope that all the damage is reversible.
Pain is subjective.
Doctors are humans.
Be grateful for the small things when you wake up.
#contactsandwaterdontmix
#acanthamoebakeratitis
a note I wrote in a book of mine when I was young.
a date significant from the others.
a surprise to see every time it’s lurking in the wild.
THIRTY FIVE
