Everardo is recovering really well, but a slight inflammation has persisted. His operation was a bit longer than anticipated due to the age and thickness of his cataract, and that has precipitated the inflammation. As a result he sees light, but nothing distinct as of yet. He continues to recover with the help of Cruz and he will visit his doctor again in 2 weeks. Some cortisone drops were donated and the doctor was extremely delighted to see these "great, good drops" added to his regimen.
His house is coming along famously! Here are some photos:
Yard before:
Yard after
Tear down old bathroom:
New bathroom outside:
New roof for bathroom to hold his new tinaco:
New clean area for cleaning up:
We have a few things we yet need to pay for: $ 800 - new tinaco $ 6000 - experienced labour for electrical, plumbing and cement $ 3000 - paint (this will probably be a bit less because we have 5 gallons of white donated)
Please continue to purchase tickets for the Efran Gonzales painting. The additional funds needed are but a few purchases of $500 pesos of tickets - or splurge and by $1,000 . . . a really cheap Efran Gonzales painting if you win! You may have already purchased some, but I bet most of your friends have not so please encourage others to donate to assist this very worthy gentleman.
Just a reminder ~ you can buy tickets for the Efran Gonzales painting to donate towards Everardo’s home at The Lab, The Helping Hands Bookstore, and The Galeria. Your donations are so appreciated.
Tonight, Tuesday, Everardo continues to see more and more light, but no sight yet.
On the full moon night I didn't bother to close the curtains since he couldn't see. In the morning he reported that the lights had been left on and that he hadn't slept well. Lol, I took it as an encouraging sign and that he was regaining his sight.
Eve continues to amaze me as I still can't imagine how he managed to survive two years without sight, cooking, washing clothes, and keeping track of his things. Beyond cognition.
This is where Eve would stand to eat, mostly boiled beans or lentils and two tortillas. There was dust galore everywhere but his dishes were clean.
The bouquet of roses was a Christmas gift from Rhonda. She left them on his stoop thinking he saw them, not knowing that he was blind. Eve's neighbor commented that someone had left him some lovely flowers and asked where he should put them. Eve had Raul bring them in so that his framed Virgin of Guadalupe could enjoy them.
Rhonda was not the only one to make the mistake as none of us realized, on first speaking with Eve, that he was sightless. For me it was a big, big shock to finally see that he was blind.
This is how Eve spent most of two years, sitting and looking out. When we approached he conversed normally and calmly. He gave no clue for us to think otherwise, that he was sightless.