Petr Novák, Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
By Bill Stokes
Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper in many areas of “age-related” health issues, and today is the day when the keeper’s treatment of AMD–Age-related Macular Degeneration, is scheduled. This translates to a trip to the VA eye clinic for a routine shot in the eye to encourage the growth of healthy blood vessels and discourage those that block vision. It is a procedure that so far has prevented the severe vision loss that the keeper’s dear old mother suffered from AMD.
The shots are administered by young UW medical students, on their way to careers around the country, and under the close supervision of VA physicians.
And while they are relatively painless, the shots are annoying–“a poke in the eye with a sharp stick” and the keeper tries to generate self pity, but fails in the face of the treatment success and in comparing his “age related” health problems to those of many others.
Also, he knows that Phyllis will feel sorry for him, and probably suggest that he try to take an afternoon nap.
