Family health update

Mom had cataract surgery on her right eye this morning, and it went very well; she is now resting comfortably at home.

This procedure is so quick that I think they will soon be offering it at drive-thru windows: I went to buy a newspaper and a cup of coffee after they wheeled her back into the O.R., and had literally just settled into my seat in the waiting room when they called my name... the whole thing took less than 20 minutes, and she was on her way home about an hour after that.

Even with the most optimal outcome imaginable, Mom will not be able to see normally after the surgery, or see well enough to read or watch TV--she will still be legally blind--*but* her doctor is firmly convinced that the more light that hits what's left of her optic nerve, the better, and that the likelihood that this procedure *will* improve her vision somewhat is quite good.

In short, the potential payoff was good and the potential risk was very low, and I'm happy to report that the "risky" part seems to have gone without a hitch.