Waiting and Watching

Last night, my BFTP and I had a quick chat before bed. In keeping with the week's unofficial theme, I had felt unnaturally sleepy by about 8.30pm and had fallen asleep watching CSI (predictable, moi?). I woke up later and we had a quick catch-up. He tells me he has an eye infection in his left eye. It is streaming and is red and is extremely painful when light shines into it. He has been to the pharmacist, who gave him some eye wash, but advised that he really should see the doctor first thing in the morning. He asks if I think he should go now. It is after 11.30pm but not quite midnight. I'm not sure what to say, but don't advise against waiting if he is in a lot of pain. It's hard to tell how serious it might be over the phone. We say our goodnights and I go to sleep.

My alarm goes off at 6.30am. I hit 'snooze' even though I purposely set it early because I need to be up early. I get a text a minute later. He has been at A&E all night. There is a high chance that he could go blind in that eye. They have given him medicated eye-drops to use every hour for the next 24. He has to go to the emergency eye clinic first thing on Saturday. I am in shock. It sounds like he is too, although the text finishes with "I am trusting in God." What else can we really do? I pray. I know that there is nothing else I can do that would be better in this situation. I am worried for him, but I trust that God knows best. I finish praying and then I call him.

He says that he went to A&E straight after we spoke. He usually texts me after we get off the phone and he explains that he couldn't because even the light from his phone was too excruciating to look at. At the hospital, they have to get an eye specialist in on call. They tell him that if he had left it any longer, he could have been blind in that eye within 48 hours. He said it was a little hard being there on his own. I feel helpless and sad that I couldn't be there with him. Distance royally sucks in these situations. We talk about things and I try to be calm and reassuring. I just want to be there to hold his hand. He has to drop his car round to his friend's. How he is managing to drive, I have no idea. I tell him to call me when he's done.

I send him a text 30 minutes later. When I don't hear from him, I give him a call before I get to work. He can't text because he is resting his eyes. They hurt too much. He hasn't slept all night, but has to put the eye-drops in every hour. He has set an hourly alarm and can therefore only nap in between. I can't even imagine the frustration he must feel, but he sounds extremely calm about everything. I tell him that I will call him at lunchtime, when he is due to put some drops in. I wish there was more I could do. It is probably a good thing he has moved back to live with his Mum for a while. At least there will be someone there to keep an eye on him while he gets better. I am praying that the drops do what they are supposed to and halt the infection in its tracks. I am praying that there won't be any permanent damage, or additional impairment to his already short-sighted vision. I am praying that he will remain calm and won't panic about things. I am praying that I won't worry unduly or add to the situation negatively in any way.

There is a reason for everything. I'm not sure what the reason for this is yet, but in the meantime all we can do is wait.