{Karlton Bontrager}

Tuesday was another good day. Karlton sat up for most of the day. And his appetite is coming back in full force. During lunch he mentioned that he’d like to eat French fries. Not wanting him to eat the fat, greasy hospital version, I headed off to the nearby McDonald’s. Choy-Lang and I hadn’t eaten yet, so I ordered Filet o’ Fish sandwiches for us (one for her; two for me) in addition to a medium sized order of saltless fries. By the time I got back to the hospital, Karlton was chowing down on a special order of spaghetti that the kitchen had sent up. He attacked the fries eagerly. Then he wanted a sandwich too. He ate the fish patty, the cheese, the tartar sauce, and the bottom half of the bun. He claimed that this was the first junk food he had eaten in two years!

In the afternoon, he had an eye appointment. But first the PTs wanted him to walk. Karlton walked across the length of his room and through the anteroom to a rolling chair. Then, sitting erect, he was whisked along the hallways and down the elevator to the Eye Department.

Karlton blew us away with his ability to see using his right eye. I didn’t get the exact numbers, but he read very near the line for 20/20 vision, if not that line itself. The neurosurgeon had predicted that he’d be fortunate to be able to detect light from that eye, and we had evidence that he could see well! He is still sensitive to light, so a more thorough examination will have to follow. Yet the eye looks good, according to the doctor. The optic nerve isn’t as pink as a healthy one usually is. That indicates nerve damange. The extent of the damange will have to be explored later. But we are so grateful that he can see and see well!

Once again, prayers have been answered. Karlton’s vision is nothing short of a miracle. Thank you all so much for your constant concern and support.