I‘m very thankful to Dr Lionel Kowal, the only one strabismus specialist in Australia, my parents and Justin.

Despite his tight schedule, Dr Kowal did not give up on me and performed 4 operations within 5 months. My pap put on hold his dream of buying his new car. My mum prayed every morning for my success of operation and helped other unfortunate kids. Justin took more than one week’s leave from work and brought my favourite chocolate from Koko Black and sushi from Sushimasa to hospital. Justin also agreed to buy a brand new Triumph Bonneville to celebrate my successful operation.

Now my both eyes are 100% aligned and move together.

This strabismus operation was supposed to be performed inTokyo, at my much-loved university hospital, the Teikyo Medical School. But work was pretty busy and there was no way to take leave from the office for four weeks. Instead, my GP introduced me to the best strabismus doctor in Australia.

Since I was 18, my right eye turned up 3 degrees. It is not noticeable unless I am tired or drunk. At the office, I have to use the computer for long hours. That made my eye very much stressed and my right eye noticeably turned up since november 2008.

First operation was performed in July 2009 at St Mercy to shorten my top eye muscle, so it stays in the centre. It worked in the beginning but my muscle responded differently over time and then the right eye turned 3 degrees inwards.

3 degrees seemed trivial, but it wasn’t good enough.

I requested a second operation, and Dr Kowal agreed to peform a second operaion at Clivedon Hill to shorten the eye muscle closer to my nose bridge. Clivedon offered white or red wine or beer after operation. Dinner was fantastic. It was three course menu with yummy dessert and you can order as much as wine you want.

First two weeks after the second operation, my right eye stayed in the centre, but after going back to work, my eye turned 3 degrees inwards again.

I was so upset. I could not understand why it happened to me. I have  been good and always respect my ancestors. I just could not accept that the two operations failed. So I called up mum and she organised airticket to Tokyo for Justin and I. We flew home and visited my grandparents’s grave and prayed everyday.

When we returned to Melbourne, Dr Kowal wanted to do another operation. This 3rd operation was at St Mercy again, and things went horribly wrong. My right eye turned in 15 degrees and my right eye did not move because a stitch slipped and there was nothing to hold the right eye.

Dr Kowal organised an emergency operation the following Friday. This time I was so exhausted from so many operations and I was still reeling from shock. But I did whatever Dr Kowal told me to.

6 hours after the operation, I woke up. I was so tired but could not wait to check my eye with my own mirror.

My right eye seemed a little bit out from the centre.

Next morning, Dr Kowal measured and it was 1 degrees out.

He said “perfect” but I was not happy. So he performed his suture technique in the afternoon to move my right eye just a little bit during while I was conscious.

Now my eyes are perfect and move together.

Through these 4 operations, I learned so many things. I feel very different now and see things very different.