Oh no. Muji, so much sympathy and support to you, and maybe you will get a miracle,so yoou do not miss Uruguay. I will keep the prayers going:)

Hugs....

Hugs Muji, I second that Argh! Prayers that somehow/someway you can still go to Uruguay! Much Support and More Hugs!

Knowing you from your posts, you'll keep your recovery alive whether you can make your annual visit or not, though I join the op's in wishing you get to go. Penguins :)

i wonder, wonder wonder, if they don't perform this surgery IN Uruguay. for much less, and maybe you have dual citizenship....

can't help wondering... probably could help typing, outloud. but then i wouldn't get called a brat child ....

who says you *have* to do it on such and such a date??

so sorry Muji. Mom is having the same thing done soon. Hopefully you can find some smaller affirming trips for you this summer.

much support

Ooooh! I like Lilly's ideas! I wonder how or if that would work, insurance-wise.

I have a friend who went to Brazil for Lasik surgery (his wife is Brazilian) and another friend who lived on Hawaii whose husband went to Thailand for dental implants. Something to think about.

I do hope you get to make your trip.

i am sorry too. and for going straight to brat.
extra hugs

Hugs Muji. I know that it will work out the way it is supposed to. I imagine none of this is easy. Maybe something will help you be able to go.

Well Muji I am sorry that they couldn't do the surgery today, that's on them. Because with cataracts effecting both eyes they never do them together anyway. Because the first two days following the repair eye is covered. So doing booth is a safety hazard.
One surgery could have and could been done today as planned if it was scheduled. But if it is a pr-operative evaluation? Then I would at least ask if the copay's could be spread out over a few months.
Cataract surgery is not considered elective in your profession so the copay's should be with in reason.
Now for your trip. This idea come from one of my education teachers. Plan the trip, but call on collegues and local colleges close to where you want to stay , give them a brief summary of your educational and first person experience as a trauma chaplain Ask of they would like you to speak as a guest on the cross cultural differences of treatment and counseling, between Uruguay and the United States. Also note that you are bilingual and have split parts of your life in missionary culture.
My professor was able to cover all of his travel outside of his foreign studies by doing seminars of a few hours.

You have so much untapped experience and many insights in the medical profession, historical views on trauma in both countries. Heck you wrote books on it, as well as academic, that you may find the requests out weigh the time you allot for this.

But the payment may offset the copay bill and allow you to visit colleges there as a visiting guest speaker on many subjects. Since I don't doubt there are students considering the move to the United states to further their own academic study and careers.This start may provide for future income when you retire.

Hugs and my heart...Also my promotional and sales capabilities.

Jewels' ideas are fantastic. In fact, this kind of activity could be a real boon to your career and an ongoing source of interest as well as income. Please do consider putting out feelers in that regard.

As for your eyes, I find it odd that they just "discovered" the cataracts in the second eye, and did not go forward with the planned surgery for the original eye. Should you maybe go for a second opinion?

Cataracts in diabetics can grow very fast. My sister in-law lost about 80% of her vision in one eye and 60% in the other in a sixth month period. So her surgeries were done last April. She cried when she could finally see the faces of her twin grandsons at four months clearly, even tell them apart.

Good luck to day in class Muji. TGIF!

oh, Muj, gentle hugs. sorry for my pushing. i really am sorry.

the last thing you need right now is *that* on top of the rest.

thank you, Jewells for explaining that. hugs and TGIF!

hugs muji.

Mine grew fast, Jewells, because of my diabetes. I was clear of cataracts in my eye exam of October 2015 with the same doctor. Then they found them in my right eye only in January 2016, then found them in my left eye, too, yesterday. It's been fast. This was my second opinion, too.