A happy outlook
With the care, support and kindness of the Ivey Eye team, the Shorts are learning how to navigate a new stage of life
For Matthew Short and Karen Rae Short, their regular visits to St. Joseph’s Ivey Eye Institute aren’t just about care. They’re also a chance to catch up with friends.
From ophthalmologists Dr. Tom Sheidow and Dr. Yiannis Iordanous to Frances in the clinic and Chris at the registration desk, they’ve come to know the entire team very well through the years. They’re always welcomed with a smile or a hug. And it’s made a huge difference to their overall experience.
Originally from England, Matthew lived in Markham for most of his adult life, and later in Fenelon Falls with his wife Karen. But after being diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 2009, the couple decided to move to London in 2014 to be closer to family – and closer to the specialized eye care at St. Joseph’s Ivey Eye Institute.
“One of the finest days of my life was when I met Dr. Sheidow,” Matthew shares. Up until this past spring, he was receiving monthly treatments that helped maintain his vision. His vision loss has started to progress more rapidly, unrelated to his AMD, and the care team is still working to figure out his next steps.
“I don’t know if there’s a treatment that’s going to help me,” he says. “But I’m quite confident in Dr. Sheidow’s hands. I cannot praise the Ivey Eye Institute enough.”
With Karen right by his side, Matthew is learning how to manage this new stage of life with low vision.
“He is very independent and tech-savvy for his age,” Karen shares.
They’ve adopted a lot of tools to make daily life easier for Matthew, like apps that transcribe text messages from speech and read out news articles directly to his hearing aids.
And Matthew isn’t alone in his admiration for the Ivey Eye team. Karen herself needed cataract surgery recently and says the care she received from Dr. Iordanous and his team was efficient, comfortable and compassionate.
“We have been really thankful for the care and treatment here,” she adds.
That’s why they choose to give annually to St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation. They also support other organizations across the community that have touched their lives. “We’re not big on gifts for each other,” Karen shares. “But we divvy up our giving at the end of the year to local causes that are important and relevant to things we’ve had to deal with.”
As they look ahead to the future, the couple are hopeful. They’re planning to spend as much time with family and "granddogs" as they can, and they’re also considering moving to a more accessible home.
“Even with our challenges, we still have a very happy outlook,” Matthew shares.
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