This morning 'himself' paid a visit to his ophthalmologist for the bi-annual check of his glaucoma. The good news was that the pressures are still fine and to keep using the drops as per usual.
The piece of surprising news was that he is booked into have the cataract in his right eye operated on on 31 July next. Seems this cataract has grown quite quickly since his last visit in December so time to be done. Good eyesight is so important especially when driving.
The problem is that he has to be at Bethesda Hospital in Claremont at 6.30 a.m. on the day of the procedure. That would be all of about 15 km (10 miles) north of us which would probably entail a driving time of between 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic density. It is an extremely busy stretch of road and even if I could drive locally in an emergency (I do have a current licence) I wouldn't contemplate driving that distance at any time.
I can't ask anyone to be up early enough to pick himself up before 6 a.m. although I am sure one of the family would be available to pick him up after the procedure and bring him home. It will mean having to rely on a taxi arriving at our place on time to deliver him to the hospital by 6.30 and these days I have heard taxis can be somewhat unreliable. I have used the fare calculator which tells me it will cost between $30-35. That seems quite reasonable so will book a cab in advance and trust all will be well.
The following day himself will have to pay a visit to his ophthalmologist to have the bandage removed but that is not much of a worry as I am sure someone in our family will help out if they possibly can.
I very much regret the fact that I no longer drive but my arthritis is at the stage that I do not have sufficient confidence that my reaction time would be quick enough in an emergency. Even my hands don't have a very firm grip nowadays and goodness knows what my back or knee may do should I suddenly have cause to slam on the brakes. I always used to love driving and years back thought nothing of driving 300-400 kilometres and I miss it so much. I feel I am letting 'himself' down in not being able to be there for him in July and, even though I know he understands, a feeling of sadness comes with the knowledge that this task is now beyond me. Big sigh!!
To the young these events are just accepted and got on with but when we age much more planning and thought needs to go into even a simple trip to a hospital.
