It’s been a second consecutive bad, weird year for too many reasons. But in a year of absurd firsts, I recently got one that was totally out of the blue in a way different from most other unwanted surprises of 2025.

Recent weeks have involved exams and consultations with various doctors, specialists and surgeons for some new upcoming surgery I recently found out I apparently need to have. But in the process, the surgeon’s more thorough examination apparently (allegedly?) revealed something I was actually shocked to hear and when you consider my many millions of longtime severe health problems, that will sound weird, but I have a longer history of attention paid to my eyes due to a number of things throughout my life — none of them the following.

I was told that from birth I have had an incurable genetic disease called Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy Bilateral, complete with talk of corneal transplant surgery! And of course at obscene rates I can’t afford despite the initial promises my insurance would cover everything. That was before this revelation. Shit. How ’bout them apples, eh? Don’t really want to go into it but wanted to tell *someone.* Thanks.

• SCH