While attending a practice round of the Houston Open Golf Tournament at The Woodlands, Texas, I noticed many black floating dots in the field of vision in my right eye. One day later an amber blob appeared in the upper right corner of the right eye along with even more floating black dots. I went to the Houston Eye Associates on April 29 and by six pm in the evening I was having emergency surgery for a detached retina in the right eye. Nine days later on May 8th I was having a second emergency surgery for a detached retina and a tear in the retina of the right eye. Finally, four weeks later, on June 3rd I had a third emergency surgery for another detached retina and another tear in the retina. This makes three surgeries in five weeks. The only thing which got me through all this was the prayers, support, and assistance of my family and friends. This is also true now while I am in the healing process. My vision won't return to normal until a final fourth surgery is done to remove the oil bubble implanted in the third surgery. That is not scheduled until late October or early November. However, before I close the final chapter of this unfortunate saga, I want to explain that I learned much about what it means to be in another person's prayers and to feel another person's comfort. It would be easy for me to say that vision is something we don't miss until we lose it, even temporarily. It is much more difficult for me to expain why we, and I in particular, have to experience hardship or even a tragedy before we appreciate the love and support ot others in our lives. I received many e-mails from people wishing me well, offering all sorts of assistance, and wanting to know how I was doing. Nothing pleased me more than when I could send out my first positive status report !

I don't wish a detached or torn retina on anyone. Please consider that I have touched the stove for you so you don't have to touch it yourself. And, please, try your best to feel and acknowledge the good wishes coming to you every day from your family and friends and associates. You don't need something like a detached retina to know there are people who care a great deal for you. All you have to do is open the door of your soul and let them in.