I wanted to post this so my friends can pray for Cory’s continued healing. Sounds like the Lord has done some awesome stuff in this situation. His blog can be found at: http://octimesquartet.blogspot.com/
-Drew
Thursday, May 8, 2008
AMAZING Grace!
Forgive me as I’m sure this will get long-winded, but I feel the need to let you all know just exactly what I’m feeling.
Many of you are aware of the trauma I had with my eye early this year. After one surgery and many prayers, we fixed one problem. This was followed by months of follow-ups and continual bleeding in my eye. Then last week, we found that I had a detached retina and surgery would be necessary to repair the detachment. At that time, doctors told me I would not likely regain any vision in my right eye, but the surgery would save my eye ball itself, to keep me from having to get a glass eye.
Yesterday, I went in for surgery. My doctors planned it to be one-and-a-half to two hours and would include reattachment of the retina with a sclera buckle, possible pneumatic retinopexy (a gas bubble in the eye which would require me to be head down again for a week or two), silicone oil, laser therapy, cryotherapy, membrane dissection as well as a possible lensectomy. We prepared for this surgery for some time and arranged for a family friend from church to do my anesthesiology. She has a rep for being the best in town, but it’s also comforting for mom, dad and myself to go into an intimidating situation with a friend in the room.
Adding to this, my insurance that I had to cover the last surgery dropped me a few weeks ago. I was on a short term policy and the contract I signed had an option for them to not allow me to renew after six months. I had no way to pay for this surgery and that was a great burden on my family and I. My doctor setup an appointment with the State Work Rehabilitation Office. The day before my surgery, I heard back that I had been approved for federal assistance through Services for the Blind, covering all of my doctor and hospital expenses, a true blessing and relief.
I’ve never been much of a worrier, I just can’t think of an instance where it has helped any situation. Whatever happens, happens for a reason, and no matter what, it is in my best interest. It’s hard to see that sometimes – very hard – but I believe it wholeheartedly. So we (mom, dad and I) went to the surgery feeling upbeat, positive and eager for continuing the healing.
After saying our goodbyes, my anesthesiologist, Kathy, wheeled me into the operating room where I found Dr. Friedlander (my talented doctor and surgeon) and an old classmate, Emily, who was scrubbing in as one of his nurses for the procedure. There was also a med student from Illinois who was there to observe the surgery. It was a party! I asked Dr. Friedlander if he would do the silicone oil, if at all possible, so that I wouldn’t have to spend several days with my head down. (I’m graduating from college on the 17th of this month and really wanted to walk across that stage when my name was called.) He said he would do what he could, said goodnight and that was about it.
I woke up in a daze with the familiar itch of stitches in my eye, ointment on my good eye and one question… “did he put the silicone oil or the gas in my eye?” The nurses in recovery weren’t sure, but they didn’t have instructions to put me head down, so it must have been oil. This made me pretty happy. But I had no idea what was to come.
Sometime later, they brought my parents to the recovery room and my mom grabbed my hand and asked if I had heard the good news. She told me that Dr. Friedlander found that my retina was NOT detached, he cleaned up my inner eye and sent me on my way.
There are truly no words I can write to tell you what kind of joy this gave me. I didn’t want to ask any more questions because it hurt to cry, it was pure delight. Dr. Friedlander removed the old congealed blood, scrapped more blood off my lens and did some work with the laser to prevent further bleeding within my eye. My parents told me when he came out to tell them how things went (just 45 minutes after going under) that he had a big grin on his face. (I’ve also learned through all of this that when your doctor is happy, you should be happy – when he is not, you should not.)
Today, I went in for a post-operation checkup and removal of the bandages. It’s itchy, red, swollen and looks like I got in a pretty good argument with a fist and lost. But when I opened my eye… I COULD SEE. For the first time in months, I could count fingers a few feet away, detect motion, see color – all out of an eye that I had been told was all but lost. My lens is scratched and a cataract is forming and will require a quick, routine surgery. My optic nerve still has damage to it and will not likely heal, so I won’t likely be able to read with that eye again, but the fact of the matter is I CAN SEE!!!!
I know that we don’t all share the same religious beliefs but I just have to say, I truly have been touched by God throughout this whole ordeal. This truly miraculous turn in events is just one part of a much bigger picture. God has walked with me through the dark, lonely moments at night while wondering what the next day will bring; He has forced me to give up my selfish ambition and will to succeed on my own, and has brought me to rely on only His strength.
In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Paul writes:
“But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.“
What a privilege it is to know that true, unconditional love; to lay my worries and cares at the foot of The Cross, and to trust that everything that happens to me is all part of a much bigger plan. There’s nothing I can do to earn or deserve it, it’s all by the Grace of God.
I’m truly grateful to you all for your e-mails, kind words, thoughts and especially prayers. I wish that there was some way for me to repay you for the outpouring of kindness and love… I look forward to seeing you all in the near future and singing a sing with or for you, and appreciate your continued prayers for healing, but mostly joyous thanksgiving for a true miracle.
-Cory
Ok I am officially hooked on the awesome stuff of the Hi-Lo’s. It took me a while to come around to it, but if you’ve never heard of these guys, you have to check out their website, 
Check out the Singers Unlimited and their recordings at the following page, 
I try to stay as balanced as I can on a lot of Barbershop issues. There’s the constant effort to try and get a quartet sound to be a “lock” between 4 voices. The neat thing about this particular hobby to me in regards to quartetting is this; you take 4 individuals of different background, and their voices, their life experiences, etc. are all different. After work, and work, and more work through duetting, trio-ing, and all kinds of unison singing stuff, you try to get your 4 different voices to match and make a 4-part chord sound like a siren… it’s solid, and exciting.
(remember… I’m a product of my generation, so forgive my overlooking of stellar bass singers of the older days!) Depending on the genre of music, there are some phenomenal low-note singers out there who have made quite a name for themselves. There’s the bass for Take 6 – Alvin Chea, whose rich deep vocals are truly bass notes. Then there are men from many other outstanding vocal groups around the country, not the least of which is the solid voice of Bill Gaither of Gaither Vocal Band. While Bill is getting older, he still cranks out a solid bass sound that’s pretty. But in terms of accuracy, attention to pitch, intervals, voice timbre and brains, I can’t think of anyone that outranks the bass of the 1978 International Champion Barbershop Quartet bass, the Bluegrass Student Union’s Rick Staab (pictured with glasses in the quartet). Sure, there are others that would clearly make the top of some other folks’ list; Jeff Oxley would probably be very close if not tied for 1st on my own list (Bass of 2 Gold medal combo’s, The Rapscallions of 1984, and Acoustix of 1991, also a Silver in Max Q, the current 2nd place quartet). Jeff has arguably the most gorgeous voice in the Barbershop genre of music, and a range that is unparalleled. Smoothness, pitch, and rhythm-meister Greg Hollander of Michigan Jake (2001 International Champion BBShop quartet), and Jayson Van Hook from Four Voices for depth, youth, and the wow-factor, (the 2002 International Quartet Champion), and Jay Hawkins for pure lock and ring, brains, and one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet (1987 Champs, Interstate Rivals, and 1995 Champs, Marquis).
Ok – so those of you who are barbershoppers, don’t get upset… (especially my dear wife!) With no disrespect to any of the talents of today’s champ tenors – especially the amazing Drew Kirkman of 
Below, one of the best trend-setting champion quartets; the Confederates of 1956. 2 Rebels and 2 Yankees, the Confederates used this image as simply a vehicle. Unlike today, there was no agenda, political statement, or anything BUT a great costume and songlist that went along with songs about the South. They truly “locked” and “rang” almost every chord of the songs. They were trendsetters in explosive dynamics and interpretive style, and their style is emulated by many modern quartets, still. Plus, I started singing Barbershop in the home of these champs; Memphis. You might say, “it’s just a quartet, Drew.” True… but in each hobby, sport, or obsession, we have our own heroes. But they weren’t just a quartet. Naturally, our new “old school” quartet is singing 2 of their songs; Redhead and Goodbye Old Dixie, Goodbye. 
In addition to singing with a hero, it’s realizing that all heroes are real men and women. People who have worked hard and achieved the heights of success by doing the groundwork. 
Oh yeah… if we win, it’s $3000 in our pocket! Woohoo! If you haven’t sung barbershop harmony… you are missing some of God’s greatest creations; perfect harmony. Want a kick? Go to 
Droo's Clues 