Well, my adventures took another turn. This time with my right eye.
Several weeks ago I noticed I was having trouble focusing on my modeling. Not mentally, but with my eyes. I noticed a gray circle in the center of my vision with my right eye.
Yesterday, Pam and I had an appointment with a Retina Dr. and he said I had a Macular Hole. It needed to be repaired immediately via eye surgery.
I won't go into all the gory details, but the surgery will last about 30 minutes. I'll be asleep and it will be at the eye surgical center on an in/out patient basis. I'll be required to lay on the bed with my head over the side face down for three full days, 45 minutes out of every waking hour. This process allows the air/gas bubble, which will be inserted at time of surgery, to hold the macular hole in place as the tissue heals and repairs itself.
The doctor advised Pam and me that I'll have no sight in the right eye for 30 to 45 days after surgery. As the eye heals, I'll regain 90% of my eye sight in the right eye and the left eye will compensate so that my sight will be fine to continue modeling in about 60 days.
Surgery is scheduled on Monday, July 27, 8AM.
I'll be off the forum for at least 60 days so I won't be responding to emails or PMs. Pam will advise Curt( PRR Modeler) and he will give an update after surgery.
I'll continue to build Horwood Brothers and post updates until the surgery date.
I love this forum, my friends here and everyone here has been super. Thank you all very much.
Tom
Alright...you're just getting it all squared away at once...see you on the flip side. Hang in there Tom - we're all thinking of you.
Aw Geez! I know how frustrating it was to deal with my easy cataract surgeries. This does not sound like fun at all! But the prognosis sounds pretty good.
Think of it as an opportunity to listen to a lot of music and maybe audiobooks...
dave
Tom, sorry to read about another health issue.
I'll be sending positive thoughts your way for a speedy and full recovery from the eye procedure.
Good grief, you've really been hit all at once. Good luck with the surgery and recovery. You'll be in all our thoughts.
Jeff
Like Jeff said, good grief!
Tom you are having one heck of a time. At least there is a solution but even that does not sound like fun. OK with that out of the way the boys wanted me to ask if it is OK if we have are upcoming parties at your train barn? We promise not to make too much of a mess and not run the trains flat out (most of the time). Hopefully that at least brought a small smile to your face. Will miss you on the forum but get well and keep us in the loop.
All the Best My Friend
Jim
Sure quite a hand full of issues keep adding. We all will keep you in our prayers and thoughts.
Tom all the best to you.
I'm glad to hear that surgery will correct the problem and you'll be a s good as new.
Prayers for you.
Jerry
Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Tom!
Tom. As all have stated, best wishes and a speedy recovery. Having a recent hospital stay myself, it will be a relief to have this over, and to put in the review mirror. Mark
Afternoon All,
I just talked to Pam, Tom's wife. Tom did fine during surgery and was back home by 1200, and following post surgery instructions.
Tom starts his 40 episodes of Radiation Therapy on 3 August.
Tom doesn't want phone calls or texts at this point of his recovery.
If I get more info I will pass it on.
Hope all goes well Tom. My sister had exactly the same problem, Macular hole, & operation was last week.
Yep, have to keep your head down, like reading a book, for a few days, then check ups in 2 & 4 weeks.
Tom
Good luck with the surgery and have a speedy recovery. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
John
Wow :o
Wishing Tom a speedy recovery. Will definitely keep Tom and Pam in my thoughts and prayers.
Here's a video on Baldwin Centipedes (Seaboard had some). Tom could listen to the voice track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4hDCKB2RrU The narration is very informative and would work fine without the associated videos.
dave
Afternoon All,
Just talked to Tom. He is doing alright. The eye that had the surgery is still blurry but he can see shapes and colors.
Tomorrow he starts his 40 rounds of radiation therapy.
He sounded in good spirits just bored because he can't read. As he put it , I'm not much of a TV guy.
Thanks, Curt...
terry
Thanks Curt for the update! Best wishes to Tom
Thanks for the update Curt, best wishes to tom for the next step.
Curt, thanks for the update.
Tom, hang in there and speedy recovery.
Hang in there Tom!
TY Curt!
Morning All,
Just talked to Tom. He says his eyesight is slowly improving and can discern what a shape is and see colors. He says his eyesight should be back to normal in 2-3 weeks.
He has had 5 radiation treatments without side effects and has 35 more to go.
He hopes to start posting again in a week or two.
Tom continues to be in good spirits.
Quote from: PRR Modeler on August 10, 2026, 09:29:54 AMMorning All,
Just talked to Tom. He says his eyesight is slowly improving and can discern what a shape is and see colors. He says his eyesight should be back to normal in 2-3 weeks.
He has had 5 radiation treatments without side effects and has 35 more to go.
He hopes to start posting again in a week or two.
Tom continues to be in good spirits.
Great news!
Great news!! Tell we asking for him!!
Jerry
Thanks for the update, Curt!
That is good news Curt, thanks. I tried reaching him but his phone was off line and I did not want to intrude. He sure is having a time of it this year.
Jim
That is great news indeed.
That is great news; thanks for keeping us updated Curt.
Good to hear good news about Tom! Thanks for relaying it, Curt.
Curt, thanks for the update.
Very happy to hear Tom is doing well and will be posting again soon.
Glad to hear he's progressing and still in good spirits.
Jeff
Thanks for your update on Tom, Curt.
Rich
Great to hear!
Thank you Curt for the update!
Afternoon,
I talked to Tom today. He is doing well and tolerating his radiation therapy well. It also appears that he will have surgery after the radiation is completed to remove the tumor off the kidney because it appears that the doctors can't agree about the tumor.
Tom will probably post some time next week.
Once again, thanks for the update, Curt.
Curt, thank you for the update.
Tom, hang in there and good luck with the continued treatments and upcoming surgery.
Thanks for the update Curt, glad Tom is going well considering.
It makes me gad to learn Tom is improving. Looking forward to his return.
Hang in there Tom,
You are in my thoughts and prayers,
John
Curt thanks for the update. Tom my thoughts and prayers are
with you for a successful conclusion to all this.