I am writing today for a couple of reasons. One, I wanted to wish everyone a happy new year as we wrap up the final days of 2018. It has been a good trading year, particularly since the Fall and into the Christmas holidays.

Secondly I wanted to update everyone on a health issue I have experienced since I started my year end vacation. I had been having some issues with my right eye the last couple of trading days, so I made an appointment to see my eye doctor. He couldn’t find any issues really, but was concerned that my symptoms were related to a retina detachment.

It was not obvious at the time of my appointment since I only had a very small tear, but the tear was enough to allow fluids to seep in behind my retina, and that was causing me to see some floaters, a shadow or dark spot in one corner of my vision and some sparks or flashes if I moved my eyes in certain directions. All very concerning, but the tear was not obvious at that point, and the doctor sent me home with instructions to watch it closely and call him immediately if there were any changes.

The next day I missed the last step coming down a ladder and while that was a minor issue and I wasn’t injured in any way, the jarring that was created by the extra distance to the bottom was enough to jar my retina and cause a portion of it to detach. I was instantly blind in my right eye.

To make a long story short, my doctor sent me to a specialist in Memphis for emergency eye surgery to have the retina repaired and reattached. This happened on Wednesday before Christmas, so I have been incapacitated since that point. I have been stuck at home during Christmas and forced to keep my head down and in a special position that will require a total of 14 days before I am free to look up again. This is like a small jail sentence to be honest, but it is to save my vision, so you do what you have to do in this case.

I was not aware of what was involved in retina reattachment surgery, and I am glad that was the case, because they do not put you to sleep. I would have been much more worried and concerned had I known what was involved ahead of time. For anyone interested, here is a video I watched after the fact out of curiosity of what was actually done to me. Warning, it is not for the squeamish.

So, this is not what I had envisioned for my Christmas and New Years break. I am also not sure how this is going to affect my return to work at this point. I am free to read or watch TV, as that seems to have no affect on this issue, but the fact that I have to keep my head down and how quickly my vision will return will play a roll in a normal routine for me. As of now, I plan to try and be back in the office on January 2nd, but that might change depending on how I am healing and how my vision may affect my trading ability.

I will have some follow up visits as well, and my doctor is in Memphis, so this will undoubtedly require me to be out for the day on occasion until I am fully released by my doctor. Thanks in advance for your prayers for a full and complete healing of my eye and eyesight, as this is the one thing that would quickly end the career of a day trader. Until the gas bubble that is in my eye dissipates, I am still blind in that eye to be honest, so even when I can raise my head, I will be waiting on the gas bubble to run its course so that my eyesight will clear again. I was told that this accelerates cataracts for some people as well, so I may require cataract surgery once my retina has completely healed, so that is another possible issue moving forward. The specialist I am seeing is world renowned and one of the pioneers in this procedure, and I went to him by choice and design, so I have one of the best doctors available treating me.

For now, I am taking this one day at a time and will keep everyone updated as to how I am doing and when I expect to be back to a normal routine. As of today, I still plan to be back in the office on January 2nd, but at what capacity that remains to be seen. Thanks again for your prayers and I will update everyone on January 2nd.

Mack

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Comments

Eric Frishman December 27, 2018 at

Mack,

Blessings to you in your recovery! You have shared so very much. Simply take this time to rest up and focus on healing.

Pura Vida!

Eric

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    charles bratton December 27, 2018 at

    Mack very sorry to hear about your eye problem. Bummer way to sepend the holidays.

    We will surely keep you in our thoughts and prayers for a quick recovery.

    charlie

    Reply

czuzak December 27, 2018 at

Dear Mack, wow am so sorry to hear of these troubles! I have a friend who also had a retinal detachment surgery and he did eventually get 100% of his vision back once everything was healed. Sincere thoughts and prayers…
Catherine

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Philip Woodard December 27, 2018 at

Mack, here is to wishing you a speedy recovery! Thanks for sharing this with us and hope to see you back in the trading chair soon.

P H I L

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Wendy White December 27, 2018 at

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family and for a speedy recovery. God Bless.

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James December 27, 2018 at

Sorry to hear this. Get well soon!

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Jorge December 27, 2018 at

Mack, rest well so that you may heal and find health again. My best wishes!

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Karen Selman December 27, 2018 at

Mack,

Be encouraged! Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever and He heals today just as He healed in Bible times! (Heb 13:8).

Although you can’t tell by my physical appearance, I have no vision in my right eye because I was born with an undeveloped retina. Later in life, I also experienced a detached retina in the same eye so the little bit of peripheral vision I did have was lost. All this to say, I know that you will experience a full recovery, but in my case, living with vision in only one eye is the way it has always been and it has not hindered me from living a full and normal life. I have to make some adjustments when driving, like turning my head 90 degrees when I need to make a right turn or change lanes, or even when I am walking around the house. And when it comes to trading, even if I had two good eyes, if it hadn’t been for the Lord leading me to you, I would not have experienced the success I am experiencing today! By His stripes, you are healed in the name of Jesus! God bless you!

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Chris m December 27, 2018 at

First of all best wishes to you on a full recovery, and wow that is crazy to see what they do….and gotta say lucky we live in the time we do.

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Dion Carroll December 28, 2018 at

Mack,

so sorry to hear about your recent vision issue. I will sure pray for a full and speedy recovery. Wish you the best new year and many blessings to your family!

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Aaron December 28, 2018 at

What a horrible thing to have happen, especially during the holidays! Thanks for keeping us updated. The same thing happened to a friend of mine so I know all about the many hours a day face down, unable to move. You are in my prayers and I wish you all the best for a swift and safe recovery. Sounds like you have excellent care so hopefully you can be back to full health soon. All the best from this side of the Atlantic,

Aaron

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Belinger Tomáš December 30, 2018 at

Stay strong Mack!! Hopefuly you will be healed soon. I wish you all the best.

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Chris December 30, 2018 at

Hi Mack. So sorry to hear about your situation. I wish you a speedy recovery and all the best for 2019.

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Dejan January 3, 2019 at

All the best wishes and fast recovery to you Mack from Norway.

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Tony Arato January 3, 2019 at

Mack,

We haven’t connected in a while but I am still watching your videos every night and continuing to train. I am sorry to hear about your eye. I hope all goes well and you make a speedy recovery. I hope the New Year brings much better conditions and all goes well.

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jayriv11 January 7, 2019 at

You are in my prayers Mack. I wish you all the strength and support as you heal from this incident.

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Pat January 7, 2019 at

How utterly scary and unfortunate, especially considering your profession. I hope you return 100%. It’s a good reminder that we never know what tomorrow holds.

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Carolyn January 7, 2019 at

Hope you feel better Mack. Happy New Year!

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Dan Donahue January 8, 2019 at

I’m so sorry to hear of your health issue. I’ll keep you in my prayers for a speedy recovery.

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bao January 8, 2019 at

I hope you get better Mack, we all care for you.

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ambrose September 19, 2019 at

quick recovery mack

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jlockett777 May 8, 2020 at

Praying for you brother. Hope it’s better daily. HYDR

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    Mack May 9, 2020 at

    Thanks, I will be having one more surgery this month for a cataract that was caused by the gas bubble they use to repair a torn retina.
    cant wait, as it is getting hard to see the screen well lately.

    Reply

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