             ,,*APT] ,,SIX
 ,,*ANG+ ,,DOCTORS ,,MI<T ,,*ANGE ,,YR
                 ,,LIFE

,,SU7ES;NS ,,ON ,,H[1 ,,:51 ,,& ,,:Y
  ,AF Y R1D ? *APT] ON *ANG+ DOCTORS Y
>E GO+ 6LOOK UP & SAY3 8,I KNEW T4 ,I
C'T 2LIEVE "SBODY ACTU,Y WROTE ALL T
D[N4 ,T'S J -MON S5SE10 & Y WD 2 "R4
,H["E1 _M P D N ?9K AB H[ & :5 6*ANGE
DOCTORS1 EV5 :5 !Y >E 4SATISFI$ ) _!
M$ICAL C>E4 ,*ANG+ DOCTORS1 H["E1 HAS
*ANG$ MY LIFE DRAMATIC,Y TWICE1 S ,I AM
9CLUD+ MY /ORIES 9 ? *APT]1 Z WELL Z
SU7ES;NS Z 6H[1 :51 & :Y Y %D D S4
  ,"O ( MY "F'S BE/ FRS 0 AN EYE DOCTOR
:O LIV$ AB A MILE D[N ! ROAD F \R H\SE4
,I PLAY$ ) 8 NIECE & SWAM 9 8 POOL1 &
LAT] 8 NIECE & ,I W5T F PLAY+ 6D\# DAT+1
AL? %E 0 A GRADE 2H ME 9 S*OOL4 ,I RODE
ON 8 %\LD]S :5 ,I 0 SMALL1 & 8 0 "S"TS
"O (! LAPS 96: ,I CURL$ UP 6SLEEP DUR+
"PIES4
  ,? DOCTOR US$ 6T1M UP )A NURSE 9 T[N
6OP]ATE RET9A EXP]I;TS ON 8 C[S 9 AN
EF=T 6F9D A WAY 6REPAIR M9E4 ,I 0 8 LL
GU9EA PIG1 & HE 3SID]$ X 8 "R 6EXAM9E MY
EYES :5"E & :]"E HE FELT L X1 :E!R WE 7
AT 8 H\SE OR 9 ! GROC]Y /ORE4 ,8 MOVE;TS
7 S FA/ & DEXT]\S T ,I 0 N"E MADE
PHYSIC,Y UNCOM=TA# 0HIS 5D.S CURIOS;Y4
,8 NIECE1 MY FR1 F9,Y PUT A /OP 6X 9 NO
UNC]TA9 T]MS3 8,UNCLE ,?OMAS10 %E
EXCLAIM$ 9 ! VOICE %E RES]V$ EXCLUSIVELY
= EXASP]AT+ ADULTS1 8,G AWAY1 WE'RE
PLAY+ "R N[40
  ,HE TRI$ 6%[ "S:AT M RE/RA9T AF T1 B
HE WD / RELAPSE4 ,:5 ,I 0 HAV+ AN
EXAM9,N = MY COLLEGE PHYSICAL1 S"EAL
M$ICAL /UD5TS 7 VISIT+ 8 CL9IC4 ,)\T
ASK+ MY P]MIS.N1 HE LOOK$ UP AF MY EXAM
& YELL$1 8,ANYBODY WANT 6SEE ANY ,,RLF8
,BETT] GET 9 "H N[40 ,ALL ! /UD5TS CAME
RUNN+ Z IF HE _H (F]$ A LOOK AT A BURI$
TR1SURE4 ,,RLF /&S = RETROL5TAL
FIBROPLASIA1 ! 3DI;N : CAUS$ ! RET9AS (
?\S&S ( BL PREMATURE BABIES 6DETA* DUE
6HAV+ BE5 GIV5 TOO M* OXYG5 9 ! 9CUBATOR
DUR+ ! LATE #AIDJ;S & 96! MI4LE #AIEJ;S4
  ,MY "F RAIS$ ME 62LIEVE T X 0 MY DUTY1
Z ! ONLY BL P]SON "S P 9 ! _W WD "E
MEET1 6SUBMIT 6E "Q ANYBODY MI<T WANT
6ASK AT ANY "T1 OR ANY PLACE4 ,T "D1
H["E1 = R1SONS "KN ONLY 6! ANGEL (
P]V]S;Y :O 0 9/RU;TAL 6! CRE,N ( MY
BASIC P]SONAL;Y1 ,I REBELL$4 ,I MADE EA*
(! /UD5TS 9TRODUCE !MVS1 TELL ME :Y !Y
WANT$ 6/UDY ! EYE1 :AT _! FAVORITE
HO2IES W]E1 & H[ !Y WD PRES5T LOSS (
EYESI<T 6A PATI5T4 ,? 0 ! F/ "T ,I _H "E
EXP]I5C$ P[] Z A PATI5T2 ,I H BE5 DO+ X
"E S9CE1 E *.E ,I GET4
  ,DOCTOR 8,TOTT0 Z WE ALL CALL$ HM1 0 N
T]RIBLY -=TA# ) ? =C$ 9TIMACY1 & HE SI<$
& PAC$ A LOT4 ,N"E!.S1 ,I SAT V / DUR+ !
EXAMS1 & ,I DID1 AF ALL1 HOLD ALL !
C>DS4 ,HE US$ ! "T 6GIVE ME ADVICE T
LAT] *ANG$ MY LIFE & LOOKS =! BETT]4
  8,IN ! NEXT S"EAL YE>S10 HE SD1 8,YR
EYES W H 6BE REMOV$4 ,:5 !Y GET 6HURT+
TOO BAD1 -E HOME & ,I'LL D X4 ,I C SEE M
& M ATROPHY2 X W J 2 A MATT] ( "T4
,2SS10 HE A4$1 8X W IMPROVE YR LOOKS4
,YR CAT>ACTS >E V NOTIC1# N[1 & YR EYES
>E V SUNK54 ,!Y MAKE PRETTY PLA/IC EYES
N[40
  ,:5 MY "F DI$ DUR+ MY S5IOR YE> 9 HI<
S*OOL1 X 0 ? DOCTOR WE CALL$ 6ADM9I/] A
S$ATIVE 6MY "M4 ,HE 0 "O (! FEW P :O
RECOGNIZ$ MY /OIC 2HAVIOR AF MY "F'S D1?
= :AT X WAS--MY ATTEMPT 6PO/P"O GRIEF4
8,Y NE$ 6GET \ ( T[N = A:ILE AF ? IS
OV]10 HE SD1 REF]R+ 6MY "F'S FUN]AL4
  ,LAT] :5 ,I 0 9 COLLEGE & ,DR4 ,TOTT
LAY DY+ ( C.ER1 ,I W5T 6VISIT4 8,HE'S N
SEE+ ANYBODY1 B HE'LL SEE Y10 8 WIFE SD4
  ,I W5T BACK 6HIS ROOM & /OOD 2S 8 B$
)\T T\*+ HM OR ! B$4 ,I CD FEEL ! PA9
RADIAT+ F 8 BODY2 X 0 Z IF HE _H ]ECT$ A
WALL ( PA9 >.D HMF T N"O ( U 7 ALL[$
6T\*4 ,I KNEW BETT] ?AN 6CRY2 HE WD HATE
T4 ,? UNDEMON/RATIVE1 IMPATI5T MAN :O
ALW TALK$ 6ME Z IF ,I 7 AN ADULT EV5 :5
,I 0 V "Y 0 DY+ SL[LY & PA9;LLY4 ,I 0
LOS+ MY "F AG & ,I 0 N EV5 \ ( COLLEGE
YET4
  8,MS4 ,BOOTSIE SAYS Y'RE N EAT+ OR
TAK+ YR PA9 M$IC9E & Y'RE N 2+ A V GD
PATI5T AT ALL10 ,I SD 9 MY BOSSIE/
VOICE4
  8,I C'T ?9K :5 ,I'M ALL DOP$ UP4 ,DID
%E TELL Y 6TALK 6ME AB X80 HE ASK$1
REF]R+ 6HIS WIFE4
  8,NO10 ,I REPLI$1 DECID+ 6KEEP UP !
BANT] Z HE WD WI%1 8,I'M J NATUR,Y
BOSSY4 ,I'M GO+ 6MAKE "S MAN A HORRI#
WIFE1 "S"D40 ,HE LAU<$1 & !N MOAN$ 2C
LAU<+ _H MADE 8 PA9 WORSE4 ,I PRET5D$ N
6NOTICE1 ADH]+ 6HIS WI%ES4
  8,IF Y >E GO+ 6BE A M>TYR & N TAKE YR
PA9 M$IC9E & DRIVE U ALL CRAZY10 ,I
SU7E/$1 8!N :Y DON'T Y WRITE "S >TICLES
= EYE MAGAZ9ES1 OR D "S R1D+80 ,HE QUIT
SQUIRM+ ON ! B$ & RE,Y LOOK$ AT ME4 8,I
_HN'T ?"\ AB T1 ,I ?9K ,I'LL D X40
  ,WE _H ANO!R 3V]S,N AB HAV+ MY EYES
REMOV$ & ,I PROMIS$ :5 ! "T CAME ,I'D H
! SURG]Y D"O4 ,:AT A WEIRD 3V]S,N 6H )
"S"O :O 0 DY+1 ,I ?"\4 ,I 0 DET]M9$1
H["E1 6TALK AB :AT HE WANT$ 6TALK AB4 ,L
MY "F1 ,I KNEW HE WD HATE 2+ FUSS$ OV]4
,HE _H ONLY ALL[$ ME 6SEE HM1 "K+ ,I WD
N D S4
  8,Y C H ANY COLOR Y WANT4 ,GET !M
6MAKE Y A GRE5 PAIR ( EYES4 ,I ?9K T WD
LOOK GD4 ,& DON'T LET ANYBODY TRY 6TALK
Y \ ( X :5 X'S "T 6H !M TAK5 \4 ,Y'LL "K
:5 X'S "T4 ,I'M SORRY ,I WON'T 2 "H 6D X
= Y40
  ,"K+ HE 0 2G9N+ 6TIRE1 ,I 3TRIV$ 6L1VE
ON ! SAME 3V]S,NAL NOTE WE _H MA9TA9$4
8,PRETTY SOON Y'ALL W H 5 =A POK] GAME
UP "!10 ,I SD4 ,WE BO? KNEW ,I 0 REF]R+
6HIS UPCOM+ D1?1 Z HE _H SD ON S"EAL
PREVI\S O3A.NS H[ MY "F _H G"O TO 8! BIG
POK] GAME 9 ! SKY40
  8,Y1H10 HE SD1 & SMIL$ AT ME Z ,I
LEFT4
  ,DUR+ MY S5IOR YE> 9 COLLEGE1 8
PROPHECY 3C]N+ ! DET]IOR,N ( MY EYES
2GAN -+ TRUE4 ,H["E1 ,I 4COV]$ M* 6MY
SURPRISE1 T HAV+ "O'S USE.S1
UNATTRACTIVE EYES REMOV$1 2C ( 3/ANT
PA91 0 EASI] SD ?AN D"O4 ,I _H 6HE> AB
H[ MO/ P CD N WE> PLA/IC EYES1 & AB ALL
! ?+S ,I %D D 6TRY 6KEEP MY R1L "OS4
,AG/ MY BETT] JUDG;T1 ,I ALL[$ SURG]Y
6BE P]=M$ ON BO? EYES : LEFT !M Z
COSMETIC,Y UNAPP1L+ Z "E1 & : ONLY SOLV$
MY PA9 MANAGE;T PRO#MS =A C\PLE ( YE>S4
,I / H A V HI< TOL].E = M$IC,N DUE 6!
AM.T ,I TOOK DUR+ ? P]IOD4
  ,X 0 MY 8BL FAMILY0 :O F9,Y TOOK ME 9
H&4 8,*ANGE DOCTORS10 *ORUS$ TWO ( MY
CLOSE/ FRS :O _H ALR _H _! SURG]Y D"O4
,"! HAS BE5 ALM NO /UDY (! PROGRESSIVE
DET]IOR,N (! EYE :5 X IS N"E US$4 ,! BL
-MUN;Y1 H["E1 HAS B&$ TGR & D"O \R [N
RESE>*1 & WE USE ? K 6$UCATE EA* O!R4 ,I
0 GIV5 ! "NS ( P :O 7 BORN >.D ! "T ,I 0
& :O _H _H _! EYES REMOV$4 ,Z ! EYEBALL
& MUSCLES ATROPHY OV] ! YE>S F N 2+ US$1
A V PA9;L PROCESS O3URS4 ,! ANECDOTAL
9FO WE F.D 3FIRM$ :AT ,DR4 ,TOTT TOLD ME
S"EAL YE>S AGO4
  ,X IS N SURPRIS+ T ! TWO DOCTORS :O _H
NO PHILOSOPHICAL OR E?ICAL PRO#MS )! ?"\
( REMOV+ MY USE.S1 PA9;L1 & UNATTRACTIVE
EYES 7 DOCTORS :O KNEW T BL P :O _H N"E
SE5 CD FUNC;N V WELL )\T R1L EYES4 ,"O (
^? DOCTORS :O _H MOV$ BACK 6,COLUMBUS1
,TEXAS1 ": MY "M LIV$1 SOLV$ MY PRO#M4
,I _H PLAY$ ) HM :5 ,I 0 LL1 & HE 0 FRS
) MY OLDE/ BRO!R4 8,-E ON HOME4 ,I'LL
TAKE !M \10 HE SD4
  ,HAV+ MY R1L EYES REMOV$ 0 ! BE/
M$ICAL DECI.N ,I "E MADE = MYF4 ,I H N
_H FIVE M9UTES ( TR\# WE>+ EI PAIR ( MY
PROS!TICS4 ,I H A BR[N PAIR1 MY NATURAL
COLOR1 &A HAZEL PAIR ) Q A BIT ( GRE5 9
!M : IS ! FAVORITE ( MO/ ( MY CO-"W]S4
,*ANG+ F "O PAIR 6ANO!R IS N ANY M
DI6ICULT ?AN TAK+ \ A 3TACT L5S4 ,I AL
3SULT$ ! BL -MUN;Y 6HELP ME SELECT ! "R
PROS!TIC MAK]4 8,IF Y H A SI<T$ P]SON )
Y1 Y C G 6! BIG PLACE 9 ,H\/ON10 ,I 0
TOLD4 8,B IF Y H 6G 0YRF1 G 6,EYE
,PROS!TICS 9 ,DALLAS & GET ,R&Y ,TRAWNIK
6MAKE YR EYES40
  ,R&Y HMF HAS "O PROS!TIC EYE4 ,2C ( ?1
HE "KS :AT IS -=TA# & :AT IS N1 & HAS F/
H& K (! L;G-T]M E6ECTS ( WE>+ PROS!TICS4
,I AM GRATE;L = T K9D ( EXP]TISE 9 A
MATT] T PLAYS S* A BIG ROLE 9 A SI<T$
P]SON'S F/ IMPRES.N ( ME4 ,S9CE !N1 ,I H
BE5 MI/AK5 ON S"EAL O3A.NS AT F/ GL.E Z
2+ SI<T$ UNTIL ! P]SON SEES T ,I / C'T
ACTU,Y FOCUS MY EYE MUSCLES4 ,I
SU3ESS;LLY P]=M )\T ! D>K SUNGLASSES US$
0_M BL P]=M]S4 ,& ,I AM TOT,Y PA9 FREE4
,9 T 9/.E1 *ANG+ DOCTORS IMPROV$ BO? !
COSMETIC Z WELL Z ! OV]ALL QUAL;Y ( MY
LIFE #AJJ P]C5T1 & ,I H N REGRETT$ X =
"O M9UTE4

,SECOND ,DOCTOR ,*ANGE
  ,= MY F/ BACK SURG]Y1 ,I US$ A SURGEON
REF]R$ 6ME 0MY FAMILY DOCTOR1 NO "QS
ASK$4 ,WE %D H GOTT5 AL;G GRT2 WE BO?
LOVE BIG DOGS & W]E1 AT ! "T1 US+ ! SAME
DIET PROGRAM 6TRY 6LOSE WEI<T4 ,I _H A
BAD FEEL+ AB ! MAN1 H["E1 MA9LY 2C HE WD
N LOOK AT ME :5 WE MET4 ,_M SI<T$ P D N
R1LIZE T MO/ BL P C TELL 0! S.D (A
P]SON'S VOICE :O IS TALK+ 6!M1 IF T
P]SON IS LOOK+ DIRECTLY AT !M4 ,"S"TS ,I
LET P "K ,I C TELL 9 ORD] 6DET]M9E IF !
P]SON W D5Y N 2+ A# 6LOOK AT ME4
  ,N"E!.S1 ,I _H A R SIMPLE SURG]Y ON MY
DISC & 0 BACK 6"W HALF-"T 9 TWO WEEKS4
,"O ( MY SI<T$ CO-"W]S AL US$ HM =A M
-PLICAT$ SURG]Y & ,I TOLD H] 6TELL HM
HELLO4 ,:ILE %E 0 4CUSS+ H] [N PHYSICAL
!RAPY PROGRAM1 ? SURGEON TOLD H] T HE WD
H PRESCRIB$ PHYSICAL !RAPY = ME B HE ?"\
T1 2C ( MY BL;S1 X WD H BE5 DANG]\S = ME
6BE 9 A ROOM ) ALL ^? MA*9ES4 ,I H S9CE
_H ANO!R SURG]Y 7FU.N 9 MY MI4LE BACK7 S
,I D N EXPECT 6H M* MOBIL;Y "!4 ,H["E1
2C ,I 0 N ALL[$ 6H PHYSICAL !RAPY AF !
SURG]Y 9 MY L[] BACK1 ,I D N H M*
MOBIL;Y "!1 EI4
  ,:5 ,I SAW ! SURGEON :O 0 6P]=M MY
SECOND SURG]Y1 ,I _H A BAD FEEL+ AB HM1
TOO4 ,HE 0 V SWEET & CORDIAL1 B CD N
ANSW] V BASIC AFC>E "QS1 S* Z H[ ,I 0
GO+ 6FE$ MY DOG GUIDE & :5 ,I %D EXPECT
6BE A# 6/>T "W+ H] AG4 ,"W]S ,-P5S,N
DEM&S A SECOND OP9ION1 &! SURGEON ,I SAW
= ? _H ^? ANSW]S4 ,I SWIT*$ 6H]1 & ASK$
8:510 N 8IF10 ,I CD H PHYSICAL !RAPY
AFWS4 ,0SWIT*+ 6! BACK SURGEON ( MY
*OICE = MY SECOND SURG]Y1 ,I GOT A
DOCTOR :O _H ALR "W$ ) O!R BL P & _! DOG
GUIDES1 ?US ASSUR+ T ! QUAL;Y ( MY C>E &
REHABILIT,N AF MY SURG]Y WD 2 EXCELL5T1
9CLUD+ PO/-SURGICAL PHYSICAL !RAPY4
,ONCE AG1 *ANG+ DOCTORS *ANG$ MY LIFE 9
A V P[];L & POSITIVE WAY4
  ,"H >E "S SU7ES;NS Z 6H[ & :5 6*ANGE
DOCTORS 7,REMEMB]1 GETT+ A SECOND OP9ION
DOES N 3/ITUTE A *ANGE4 ,Y H ! "R 6"O73
#A4 ,GET "NS F YR DOCTOR1 B AL SEEK
    9=M,N F O!R S\RCES S* Z FRS1 !
    LIBR>Y1 &! ,9T]NET 7BE SURE Y 3FIRM
    ! 9FO Y F9D ON ! ,9T]NET74
#B4 ,IF Y H AN ,H4,M4,O OR A ,P4,P4,O4 T
    ONLY HAS C]TA9 DOCTORS ON XS LI/1 Y
    / MAY 2 9 LUCK4 ,/>T+ ) FRS OR CO-
    "W]S1 F9D ^? :O USE ! SAME PLAN Y D4
    ,ASK : DOCTORS !Y USE & :Y !Y L !M4
    ,CALL & ASK IF ! PHYSICIAN IS TAK+
    ON ANY M PATI5TS4 ,TELL ! APPO9T;T
    SECRET>Y Y WD L 6S*$ULE AN (FICE
    VISIT4 ,MO/ 9SUR.E -PANIES W PAY =
    AT L1/ "O4 ,MAKE A LI/ ( "QS Y WD L
    6ASK 2F Y G IN4
#C4 ,DON'T TELL YR CURR5T PHYSICIAN Y >E
    PLANN+ 6*ANGE UNTIL Y F9D "O T Y L
    :O W A3EPT Y4 ,Y >E N OBLIGAT$ 6TELL
    ! PHYSICIAN :Y Y >E L1V+ IF Y DON'T
    WANT TO4 ,"S"TS P J DON'T GET AL;G &
    X CAUSES UNNEC -MUNIC,N PRO#MS4
#D4 ,DON'T CRITICIZE ! DOCTOR Y >E L1V+
    9 FRONT (! "O Y >E *ANG+ TO4 ,J SAY
    Y L ! PHILOSOPHY OR ! TR1T;T PLAN (!
    "O Y >E *ANG+ 6BETT] ?AN ! "O Y >E
    L1V+4 ,IF Y CRITICIZE ! O!R
    PHYSICIAN TOO M* 9 ! PRES;E (!
    DOCTOR T Y PLAN 6SWIT* TO1 HE MAY
    2COME FE>;L T Y W LAT] D ! SAME ?+
    6HM1 & REFUSE 6TAKE Y ON Z A PATI5T4
#E4 ,"S DOCTORS W N TAKE ON ANY M
    ,M$ICAID OR ,M$IC>E PATI5TS4 ,IF Y
    C1 F9D "S"O :O IS ! PATI5T (!
    PHYSICIAN Y WD L 6*ANGE TO1 & LET !
    NEW PHYSICIAN "K T Y 7 REF]R$ 0T
    PATI5T4 ,TELL HM YR FR SPOKE V HI<LY
    ( 8 PR(ES.NAL -PET5CY4
#F4 ,S9CE ? BOOK D1LS ) ISSUES 3C]N+ D1?
    & DY+1 DON'T LET YR PHYSICIAN GET (F
    ) S* PHRASES Z1 8,DON'T WORRY1 ,I
    WON'T LET Y SU6]0 OR 8,I'LL D "EY?+
    ,I C 6KEEP Y ALIVE40 ,T MAY M1N HE
    2LIEVES 9 H]OIC M$ICAL M1SURES EV5
    IF Y DON'T4 ,ASK "QS S* Z1 8,IF ,I H
    M ?AN "O TR1T;T *OICE1 :O %D DECIDE1
    Y OR ME80 8,:AT IF ,I *OOSE YR L1/
    FAVORITE OP;N1 W Y TR1T ME ANYWAY80
    8,IF ,I AM DY+ & NE$ PA9 MANAGE;T1
    IS PATI5T A4IC;N AN ISSUE = Y80 8,IF
    ,I TURN D[N :AT Y 3SID] VIA# TR1T;T
    OP;NS & WANT 6BE REF]R$ 6HOSPICE1 W
    Y REF] ME80
  ,I C HE> Y SAY+ N[1 8,BOY1 2+ 9 *>GE (
MY M$ICAL C>E IS A LOT ( "W4 ,:AT IF
,I'M TOO SICK 6D ALL ^? ?+S OR ASK ALL
^? "QS80 ,T IS ! BE/ R1SON ( ALL :Y Y %D
2 S C>E;L AB ! P Y "N Z YR M$ICAL
ADVOCATES4 ,SEE1 ,I TOLD Y ? 0 A -MON-
S5SE *APT]4














