Here I am, still kicking six months after being diagnosed.  Not only am I
still here, I’m doing very well.  I no longer need oxygen.  I’m up and
getting out a couple of days a week. I’m even back to tangling with bad
guys.  My current goal is to be able to go bowling.  I expect to hit that
mark by July.

I’m incredibly lucky to have you all in my support network.  I know things
looked grim back in February, but thanks to all of you, I made it.  

For the record, that tunnel with the light at the end of it is just the
rods and cones in your retina shutting down for lack of oxygen.  Cones go
first, so your vision turns to black and white.  By the time the rods get
starved for oxygen, only your fovea<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fovea_centralis>has enough density of working nerves to give the tunnel effect.  It’s quite
a trip.

I’m officially retired at age 59 - which is something I never expected.  
Now I can be an irascible old geezer and tell those kids to get off my
lawn.  Geezerhood feels pretty good, considering the available alternatives.

The last six months have been a one-in-a-million roller-coaster ride.  I’ve
been getting steadily better since the beginning of May.  This is the
opposite for most people with this condition.  

The norm is the treatments work in the beginning and then become less
effective.  I had a really bad time with the first treatment, bad enough
that I had to recover for a month before I could start again.  Then I had a
little response that increased over time.  next thing I know, I’m trucking
around.

I’ve had a five week break since my last treatment and continue to
improve.  Improved as in ready to party.

Since I was out of action on my birthday, I’m having an unbirthday open
house next Saturday, June 23.  We’ll be open for business at 3pm and will
close at 8pm (I still tire easily.)

There will be a variety of snacks and such.  No need to bring anything.

Cheers,

Paul

1344 Humboldt St
Bellingham, WA 98225
599-6710

Hi Paul

Well done!

Thanks for the invite. I ought to be able to drop by, look forward to it

martin

On Mon, Jun 18, 2012 at 10:42 AM, Paul de Armond <paulfs...@gmail.com>wrote: