Grandpa's Vision Loss

Ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) is a rare postoperative complication that can result in partial or complete loss of vision. ION results from an interruption of the blood supply to the optic nerve heads, which are supplied by the short posterior ciliary arteries, branches of the ophthalmic artery.  From AAOS

Basically, what I've gathered from all of the reading is that Grandpa's blind and the odds of this condition improving are in the same category as winning the lottery.  We've heard the same thing from just about every doctor and specialist we have seen.  The last doctor he saw told him his chances were 1 in a million.  As we walked out of that office Grandpa said to me, "Well, who's to say I won't be that one in a million?"  I sat in that office with him and heard the same thing, but obviously we interpreted it a little differently.  He told everyone he ran into during the following weeks that he was the only doctor that gave him any kind of hope.  Even if it is one in a million - it's still a chance.

The treatments that have already been tried have been unsuccessful.  Any treatment that would have given Grandpa the slightest chance of even having some vision return would have had to have been administered immediately; however, he was on a ventilator in the ICU for weeks following the surgery, so  his vision loss wasn't even known until much later.

Hope is an amazing thing.  I think that is what gets Grandpa out of bed everyday.  Well, that in addition to the amazing housekeeper, nurse, maintenance "man", and barista that he has.  The great-grandkids help, too.  And, the weather channel.  Gotta love that weather channel.  It's a good thing we can all keep each other entertained while we wait for a miracle.