Lifted Logic Web Design in Kansas City clock location phone play check_box_outline_blank check_box chevron-down chevron-left chevron-right chevron-up facebook instagram google plus pinterest linkedin radio_button_checked radio_button_unchecked twitter youtube arrow-up send
Connect
Lori Kennedy Quilts
  • QAL
    • 2021 QAL
    • 2020 QAL
  • About
    • About Lori Kennedy Quilts
  • Shop
  • Motifs
    • All
    • Animals/Bugs
    • Background Fills
    • Easy/Beginner
    • Fan Favorites
    • Seasonal/Holiday
    • Patterns/Shapes
    • Illustrations
    • Flowers/Leaves
  • Machine Quilting
    • Basics
    • Quick Tips
    • Sewing Machine
    • Thread
    • Batting
    • Design
    • Ruler Work
    • Misc
  • Projects
    • Applique
    • Organization
    • Quilt
    • DIY
    • Doodles
    • Paper Piecing
    • Sewing
    • Uncategorized
  • Inspiration
    • Gallery
    • Watercolor
    • Creativity
    • All
    • Seamstresses in Fine Art

A Black Tangle, Flashing Lights, and a New Challenge

March 2, 2021

Today’s Topic: The Black Tangle, Flashing Lights and a Torn Retina

Good Morning, Quilters!

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, Deep Work Quilting, my sister and I spent most of February learning to longarm.  But that’s not all we did…

Welcome to the World, Owen!

We also welcomed my new grandson, Owen Charles into the world! Congratulations to my daughter, Deirdre and her husband as well as Owen’s big brother.

All are well –though I think the big brother has mixed emotions about the little interloper!

The Black Tangle and Flashing Lights

One afternoon while my sister was working on the longarm, I began quilting a small quilt top my mother made years ago.

I was happy to be back in more familiar territory–free motion quilting on my Q20.

As I stitched, I began to notice a black tangle in my right eye. It looked like a knotted piece of embroidery floss.

At first I thought it was a shadow in my eye caused by staring at my quilt and window light for so long.

Flashing Lights

I stopped quilting and assumed it would go away, but instead I began seeing flashing lights.

I was more frustrated that I couldn’t quilt than I was alarmed.

Torn Retina

By the next morning, I was sufficiently alarmed to call the ophthalmologist who told me to come in immediately for evaluation.

Over the course of the day, I was diagnosed with a torn retina and underwent laser surgery to repair the tears and most importantly, to prevent a detached retina.

Good News

I feel very fortunate to live in a time and place where excellent care is readily available!  I am extremely grateful to the skilled surgeon, Dr. Polly Quiram who performed the laser surgery as well as the rest of the staff at VitreoRetinal Surgery in Woodbury, MN!

While the vision in my right eye is quite poor right now, the “tangle” will clear and I can expect to return to my normal level of nearsightedness.

A New Challenge

For now I have very poor vision in my right eye.  It is challenging to thread a needle and to stitch.  I completed my Mom’s sunburst quilt, but that was only possible because I have well-developed muscle memory.

Photography is also challenging.  Normally, when I take photos with my DSLR, I close my left eye and look through the viewfinder with my right.  That doesn’t work now.  For the near future, I plan to use my cellphone for photos so I can use both eyes. You may notice a quality difference in the blog photos.

Public Service Announcement

If you ever notice  floaters and flashers, call your doctor right away. It’s important that a tear doesn’t become a detachment!

Read more at the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

It’s been a great reminder to me to never take my vision (or my health) for granted.  And to be grateful to all the medical doctors and staff who spend years honing their skill to keep us all healthy and quilting!

Your Grateful Quilter,

Lori

PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com and are intended for personal use only.  Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to LKQ.  For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com.  Thank you!

Related

Share Article

Please share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Categories

About

Tagged

Q20 Retinal Tear Vision

56 responses to “A Black Tangle, Flashing Lights, and a New Challenge”

  1. Susan Coolidge says:
    March 5, 2021 at 1:57 pm

    So glad you got the care you needed. We need you special “vision” in the quilting world.

  2. Beth-IHaveaNotion.com says:
    March 6, 2021 at 8:30 am

    Just a note about ‘floaters’, the only time “floaters” are a warning is if you don’t normally have them or if they increase dramatically. I always have floaters, always have… they come and they go, but there is usually one in one eye all the time!!!

  3. mickeytippens5507 says:
    March 6, 2021 at 9:54 am

    Congratulations on your grandson! I’m happy to hear that your eye is doing well, be careful not to strain it.

  • ← Older comments
Comments are closed.
  • Lori Kennedy Quilts

    Lori Kennedy

    Hi! I’m Lori Kennedy, machine quilter, & author from Minnesota. Check out my monthly newsletter & my articles. Machine quilting is my passion. From doodling to quilting, I’m here in my Minnesota studio to help you get quilting.

    Get Your Signed Copy Today!

    Buy Now!

    Subscribe to Blog via Email

    Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 14,421 other subscribers
  • Related Articles
  • January 2023 •

    About and more

    Where Have YOU Been?

  • November 2021 •

    About and more

    Quilters–It’s Been Too Long!

  • December 2020 •

    About and more

    Checking In and QAL New Schedule

BERNINA Ambassador Badge round (1)
Lori Kennedy Quilts
Copyright © 2023 Lori Kennedy Quilts. All Rights Reserved.