We are grateful to be back in Marloth Park…

Yesterday morning at 8:00 am, we returned to the eye clinic for Tom’s final check before heading back to Marloth Park. After everything we’ve been through over the past week, it felt good to know that we were finally nearing the end of this unexpected ordeal, at least for now.

Tom’s surgery was only a couple of days ago, so we were both anxious to hear what Dr. Dean had to say. The surgery to repair his detached retina was quite extensive, and as I’ve mentioned, Dr. Dean also removed the cataract from that eye during the procedure. Tom will eventually need cataract surgery on his other eye as well, but for now, there is more than enough going on with the eye that required the emergency surgery.

Thankfully, yesterday’s examination went well. Dr. Dean was pleased with the progress but explained he had to repair an “oil leak” in Tom’s eye, which took only a few minutes. He felt comfortable with us making the trip back to Marloth Park. Tom felt he could drive, and he did well, even with only one eye fully working. That was certainly welcome news since we’ve been looking forward to getting back to our little piece of paradise in the bush.

However, a few more important steps remain in Tom’s recovery. We have to return to the eye clinic on October 8 to have the oil removed from his eye and then again three weeks later for another checkup.

During the retinal surgery, Dr. Dean used silicone oil to help hold the retina in place while it heals. In many retinal detachment surgeries, the surgeon uses a gas bubble instead. The gas bubble acts as an internal support, gently pressing against the repaired retina and keeping it in position while the eye heals. Eventually, the body naturally absorbs the gas, so no procedure is needed to remove it.

Silicone oil works differently. Rather than being absorbed by the body, it remains inside the eye until the surgeon decides it is safe to remove it. That requires another procedure, which is why we’ll be returning to the clinic in October. In Tom’s case, silicone oil can provide longer-lasting support for a retina that needs more time and stability to heal. Plus, he didn’t have to hold his head in a certain position for a few weeks, which is required when using the gas bubble for the repair. He only has to wear a protective eye patch at night to avoid rubbing his eye while he sleeps and insert eight drops throughout the day and evening, which I am doing for him.

Of course, none of this means we can simply forget about the eye until October. Tom has to be careful, follow Dr. Dean’s instructions, and give the eye every opportunity to heal properly. We’ve certainly learned that retinal detachment isn’t something to take lightly. What began with Tom noticing that strange crescent-shaped, saucer-like shadow in his vision quickly turned into surgery and a whole new set of concerns.

For now, though, we were incredibly relieved. We had permission to return to Marloth Park, and that’s exactly where we wanted to be.

After a stressful week in Madagascar, Tom’s eye emergency, surgery, follow-up appointments, and all the uncertainty surrounding our return to South Africa, the thought of walking back onto our veranda and looking out over the bush felt almost surreal.

We have a lot to be grateful for. Tom’s surgery went well, yesterday’s examination was encouraging, and now we can get back to our familiar surroundings and our much-loved life in the bush. We’ll take things one day at a time and return to the eye clinic on October 8 for the next important step in Tom’s recovery.

Last night, we got takeaway dinner from Giraffe Bar and Grill, and tonight we’ll head to Jabula as usual. Tom doesn’t need to wear an eye patch during the day, and although his eye is still very red, it’s less noticeable than we expected.

Of course, in this wonderful little town, many people we know have already heard about Tom’s surgery, as have our readers, family, and friends worldwide. We sincerely thank everyone for the thoughtful comments and messages. There were so many that we couldn’t thank everyone individually, but please know we read every single one, and they meant the world to us.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 18, 2016: