Since I am 40 now, I went for an eye exam last month and I thought it would be just a quick exam and be done but it took a couple of hours and many many drops in my eyes, numbing drops, dilating drops repeated times.It was tough emotionally because all i could think of was Alec going through these tests every 3 months. I was always with Alec so I know it was hard for him and I wished he didn't have to do it but he did. But as much as I knew how difficult it must have been on him, until I experienced it myself and then imagined what is was like for Alec having to do these tests, and have these drops every 3 months is just amazing that he just did what he had to do as he always did.
Yesterday I had to go back for another test and I couldn't remember what it was until I got there and the woman said I was going to have a field test and asked if I ever did it before, I said no, then she said or do you know anyone who has, I said yes.
Alec knew this test all too well. When Alec was just a baby he saw Dr. Louisa Mayer at Children's Hospital Boston. She had to check his vision field and at that time it was to see where his eyes would follow using toys and trying as best she could with an infant to do what she needed to do. She remained Alec's Doctor all throughout and she left Children's and went to Perkins for the Blind and we followed her there.
She is just so sweet, just a tiny woman whom was probably in her 60's when Al first started seeing her. She had so much patience and gentleness with Alec, always taking the time to listen to Alec as he talked her ear off and when he told her, "Dr. Mayer,I Love You". She was so touched and just hugged him. Al would also always tell her, "Doctor Mayer, You are So Sweet". She just loved this.
She knew just what vision toys that she used were Al's favorites and rewarded him with those. And when she did this specific test that I had done yesterday, which is you put your chin and forehead up close against a bar and look into this big dish at a light in the center while little lights light up all around the bowl and you press a button every time you see a light. Alec didn't like it but he did it. He would ask Dr. Mayer to make the part he puts his chin on soft so she would get a stack of tissues and tape them to it for his comfort. She remembered every time and she never minded doing this extra thing for Alec. After doing this test myself which my eyes were filled with tears the whole time because all I could think of was being with Alec and how much more in awe I was of him for doing this test every 3 months (I figured I would fail because I couldn't see through my tears). But at the end when I saw the Doctor he showed me on the screen and said do you see all this green color and i said yup and he said green is good, I know green is good because it is Al's favorite color, just proof that Al was letting me know he was with me. I wasn't worried about my eyes, I was just worried about all the emotions I was feeling and trying not to cry too much.
I remember one appointment Alec had with Dr. Mayer, me and Al and Cassidy were going and we tried a new way to get there suggested by Miss Erlich (Al's vision teacher). Clearly she had no idea how easy I get lost which I did and I was getting so upset and mad that I was lost and that we would miss Al's appointment which was crucial as they all were because this was one of the ways the Dr.s determined Alec's care , if there were changes in his vision if it was good we rejoiced and if it was bad we were crushed because it could mean worse than vision loss. These visits were always an emotional roller coaster. Anyway Cass and Al were getting upset that we were lost especially Alec because he needed to see Dr. Mayer and Miss Erlich who was meeting us there. He was looking forward to seeing them and planning on it. And if Al was planning on something it needed to happen. We finally got there way past Al's appt. time, but it did not phase Dr. Mayer, she knew Al was upset and made sure she spent all the time he needed with her. And Miss Erlich felt so bad that I got lost which in turn assured Keith that I needed a navigation system which he got me right away.
That sweet Dr. Mayer even would take the time to check Cassidy's vision fields because it looked fun to her and she wanted to do what Alec did. It was a blessing to have this kind woman taking care of Alec and Cassidy.
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