I Do Believe In Angels – Michael’s Artificial Eye Story

I Do Believe In Angels – Michael’s Artificial Eye Story

It was in the summer of 1967 my two brothers and I were in the yard of our grandparents property. That day our beloved grandma took us shopping at the famous Webb’s City in down-town St. Petersburg, Florida. We each came home that fateful day with our very own bow & arrow set. They were fibreglass bows, 45lbs draw, complete with arrows!

Now at the time I was 9 yrs old going on 10. My other brothers were 2yrs apart, one 8 the other 12. We got out in the yard looking for something to shoot. My oldest brother was shooting at a birds nest up in an oak tree. At the time I was sitting on the ground enjoying a lap full of loquats off to one side. I was sitting there looking up watching when all of a sudden I felt something smash forcefully into my face!!! I felt my heart race wildly as I jumped up and ran into the house screaming scott shot me with an arrow. My grandpa was relaxed in his recliner watching the Lawrence Welk show. He just waved me on saying “go on in the bathroom Mikey and get a washrag!”  Well about 10 minutes later my dad rushed over in his convertible Starfire, Oldsmobile. He ran every red light to there! Got me to Palms of Pasadena Hospital, where they flew a specialist from texas and removed my eyeball.

Thats how I lost my right eye. I’ve had the same one all these years. The colors faded some but it suits me fine. The doctors told my parents upon looking over the xray of the path of the arrow as it entered my head that apprximately a fraction of an inch the arrow would have hit my brain, killing me or rendering me retarded for life. And yes I do believe in angels. The end.

M.J.Graham

35 Comments

  1. Avatar for Shelli Williamson Shelli Williamson on June 18, 2012 at 12:06 pm

    thanks for sharing…I am getting ready to go through the removal and having a eye made. God bless you!

  2. Avatar for Kaye Constance Kaye Constance on October 2, 2012 at 8:19 pm

    So sorry for you loss. My father was an Ocularist who practiced in Houston, Tx George Constance. He passed away 09/30/2012 and I am trying to get learn more about him through his patients. If you were one of them please let me know..
    Thanks!
    Kaye Constance Rutledge

    • Avatar for Everett Zierk Everett Zierk on April 7, 2013 at 9:33 am

      I lost and eye in a bad Auto Accident in San Jose in 65. He made a quick eye till I was able to get one made.
      It wasn’t till 1985 in Houston 20 years later I met him again and he made a proper fitted eye which I still have to day. I probably should get it replace.
      I am very sorry to hear of him passing away. I remember all his Alligators he had in his office. He was an early riser as I was I would get there about 6 0r 7 and we would visit while he was working on my eye. I am running out of space.

    • Avatar for virginia hebert virginia hebert on April 24, 2013 at 6:54 am

      I lost my left eye when I was three years old to liquid plumber. we are from Brownsville tx and the friends that knew my family told them to bring me to Houston because the best doctors are there, that is so true because of the damage that was done to my eye they had to remove the eye and put a prostetic eye I think your father George constance may have been my doctor.I know some things about him that only a patient would have known. please contact me I would like to know for sure. and I am sorry that your father has passed away.

    • Avatar for Michelle Edwards Michelle Edwards on June 30, 2013 at 2:20 am

      Hi Kaye,
      I am in Houston today so was thinking about your dad. He was my ocularist for 17 yrs. I am sorry to hear of him passing. I would very much like to talk with you. Like Virginia, I know things that only a patient would know. My email is Michellee61@gmail.com.
      Thank you,
      Michelle

    • Avatar for Debbie kologinczak Debbie kologinczak on December 24, 2013 at 5:40 am

      My son lost his eye from an eye disease in the 5th grade. We were fortunate enough to be referred to George Constance. He made our son’s 1st eye, then when he was in the 9th grade, he dropped it down the sink before school, I called your Dad who was preparing to go to Mexico, but he waited for us that very morning & made our son a new eye. That was such a blessing, & we’ve tried to find him so many times but never could. I remember the collection of alligators he had, too, & we took him one to add to his collection. I think that was the deal he had with our son. We just learned today that your Father had passed away. My son, who is now almost 30, saw an ocularist in Austin that knew him, & told him we had lost such a wonderful, giving man, that did so much to help a little boy feel “normal”.

    • Avatar for Raquel Cormier Raquel Cormier on May 23, 2014 at 6:31 pm

      Hi kaye I was one of your dads patients since I wad 3. He was so nice and fun loving over the years he take pictures to see how much I had grown and I loved to look at his alligator collection. We usef to bring him a different alligator every time we came. I have been searching for him for some time now you can contact me anytime

    • Avatar for jon etta hill jon etta hill on January 23, 2015 at 2:39 pm

      Your dad made my 1st & only prosthesis in 1976. I was 16 y/o. I’m 60 now. He was so compassionate.I remember that day like it was yesterday. It took 2-3 days to complete.It was government funded.Family was in poverty. I looked for your dad for the few years.I knew get would help. I again need help. Do you know an another angel that would help me get a new prosthesis.I am so tired of the stares. So depressing.I live on disability and would joyfully pay something out of monthly income until paid off. I have not gone out in 2 yrs besides my chemo treatments at LBJ.I don’t have too many years to live. I sure would like these last days happy. A prosthesis is my wish. Would you help me please.

      • Avatar for jon etta hill jon etta hill on January 23, 2015 at 2:46 pm

        Pls reply @ jonettaleblanc@yahoo.com for Jon Etta Hill.I am looking for an angel to make me a new eye prosthesis who will work with my SSI monthly income.HELP!!

    • Avatar for Diana Brown Gunter Diana Brown Gunter on July 13, 2019 at 1:18 am

      Kaye I’m not sure your dad was the same George Constance that made my eye. He was in Oklahoma City but he would come to Ft Smith Arkansas every so often and see patients there. I saw him at the Moultin eye clinic in Ft smith. Occasionally I would go to OKC. I was 16 at this time. I got ran over by a truck when I was 11. Lost most of the vision in my eye and later lost it completely. I saw George for several years and then he moved to Houston. I think of George quite often and was wondering if he was still living

    • Avatar for Bryan Johnson Bryan Johnson on January 19, 2021 at 1:25 pm

      Your father was an amazing man and I will miss him dearly – I’m sorry for your loss and would have no problem having a conversation with you!!

    • Avatar for Renee Renee on April 20, 2021 at 5:08 am

      Kaye, how can I reach you? Mr Constance was my occularist forever. I will never forget him.

    • Avatar for Maria Enriquez Maria Enriquez on November 12, 2021 at 2:59 am

      Hi! I am Maria Enriquez, I was George Constance’s patient. I was a child when I met him. He was such a great guy. I remember the alligators!! So good to know about you. I am sorry to hear that he passed away.

    • Avatar for Lesa Alexander Lesa Alexander on February 10, 2022 at 8:22 pm

      My daughter was a patient of George Constance as a child.

    • Avatar for Greg Rinehart Greg Rinehart on March 3, 2022 at 4:36 am

      Kaye,
      I was one of your dad’s long time patients. I would love to talk with you.

    • Avatar for Patton Pamela Patton Pamela on October 26, 2022 at 11:51 pm

      Hi Kaye, I was thinking about George today and googled him just to see what came up as I did know he has passed away. Please email me at pamelapatton13@gmail.com. I was a patient
      Of George for years and a personal friend as well. I can tell you a ton of George Constance stories that spanned decades.
      Would love to know you and talk more. He was truly a legendary man!
      Pamela Patton

    • Avatar for . It has never bothered me. I do not think there’s anyone out there that’s good as he was. He was very professional yet caring to each one of his patients especially kids.Elizabeth Peña . It has never bothered me. I do not think there’s anyone out there that’s good as he was. He was very professional yet caring to each one of his patients especially kids.Elizabeth Peña on December 15, 2022 at 11:14 pm

      My mom took me to see your dad when I was 13-15 yrs of age. I still remember all the plush toys and unique animal plushes in his office. I had never worn a prosthetic but my mom wanted me to have it before my quinceanera. Your dad was the best and when he did! I am now 44 and still wear it. It has never bothered me. I do not think there’s anyone out there that’s good as he was. He was very professional yet caring to each one of his patients especially kids.

    • Avatar for Jorge Luis Rodriguez Jorge Luis Rodriguez on July 13, 2023 at 9:30 pm

      Hi Kate

      This is Jorge Luis Rodriguez, I had a very close and great friendship with your dad for many years, he made my Plastic Eye in 1978 in Houston.
      Your Dad would come to Mexico very often and stay at my home, while he made Eyes to many persons in need in Puebla. Later he was making Eyes in Guatemala to persons in need. Last time I was with your Dad, I stayed at his Home for a weekend and he made my eye, which I am still using. I am 71 years old and your Father was a great friend to me and he is one of the more Humane person I have met in my life. Me and my family will miss him.

      Hope you will contact me, so I can share with you my good memories about your Dad and experiences
      My email is

      interpackjr@icloud.com

      Nice to meet you

      Jorge

    • Avatar for Jaimi deWaardt Jaimi deWaardt on February 2, 2024 at 2:01 pm

      Your father was an unbelievable artist and a craftsman. He painted/made several beautiful eyes for me. My current eye is old…but still a piece of art to me. Xoxo

  3. Avatar for Antonino Deleza Antonino Deleza on June 13, 2013 at 12:42 am

    George Constance and I had a good professional relationship in that I too am an ocularist in Houston, Texas. He was a good technician and a considerate individual. The stories that some of his former patients have shared with me picture him as a caring individual who took pride in his work and his sense of concern for each one of his patients. All of them shared his trademark collection of alligators!

    George came across as a very private and sometimes distant individual. But he would end up been a very caring technician and person. He will be remembered for a long time.

    Antonino Deleza

    • Avatar for Elizabeth Peña Elizabeth Peña on December 15, 2022 at 11:15 pm

      Do you know of anyone that is as good as he was with prosthetics here in Houston?

    • Avatar for Elizabeth Peña Elizabeth Peña on December 15, 2022 at 11:18 pm

      Do you know of anyone as good as he was with prosthetics here in Houston?

  4. Avatar for John Robinson John Robinson on October 18, 2013 at 2:32 pm

    Great information. Nice use of grammar. Keep up the good work.

  5. Avatar for Jerry Hedges Jerry Hedges on December 7, 2013 at 5:11 am

    I lost my eye to cancer in 1980. Mr. Constance made my artifical eye and it did wonders for my outlook on life. I still wear it today-Dec. 2013

    Jerry Hedges

  6. Avatar for Jay Andrews Jay Andrews on December 25, 2013 at 9:57 am

    George made an eye for me when I was 6 years old. I saw him many times from 1977 through the early 1990’s. I found him to be very open and friendly. I often spent many hours in his office talking to him while he worked on other patients & me. George had a great sense of humor & could spin quite a story. My mother & father thought very highly of him. I would l would love to talk more with you about him.

    • Avatar for Eva Hansen Burge Eva Hansen Burge on May 5, 2020 at 6:13 am

      Hello Kaye, I was one of George’s patients and friends. I always wondered what happened to him. Contact me evaburge@yahoo.com Sincerely, Eva

  7. Avatar for Tanya Perry Plunkett Tanya Perry Plunkett on March 22, 2014 at 2:47 am

    Kaye,
    How I loved your Dad!
    I was a patient for years – visited and had dinner with him when we saw him .
    I knew Poni and shopped, etc with her when he was married to her.
    My Mother and I were guests in his home several times.
    God surely has an angel now – I can remember several times he went to Guatemala and made
    eyes for a whole room of kids – do you know what that did for their self esteem!!!
    Would love to tell you more!!!!
    Tanya

  8. Avatar for Julian Johnson Julian Johnson on July 2, 2014 at 6:55 pm

    I was a patient of your dad since I was in the first grade he was so cool with his sunglasses and shirts, he was always chewing gum lol, I lost my eye in the beginning of my first grade year and was lucky enough to know him, his work was fantastic on the pupils, my mother would take me to the office and he would always say im gonna put that twinkle back in your eye before he would polish it, he was the best….its very sad to hear that hes passed, I haven’t seen many other prosthesis but im sure the workmanship is not as good, I still have my eye from twenty plus years ago

  9. Avatar for Bill Atkinson Bill Atkinson on August 30, 2014 at 7:18 am

    I met George in 1987 while on assignment at DOW Chemical. He did a great job creating my eye. His first comment was that he was PO’ed with the doctor at Clute for doing such a bad job with my ball and socket.
    Then he took me in like a homeless puppy and nurtured me back to health. I traveled all over the country since then, but I always made the time to visit George. His down home hospitality of the Cajun kind was just plan unforgettable. When my wife and I would visit, he would have some type of Cajun Creole meal ready for us to feast upon.
    George loved his wife and he talked about her all the time. He told me where to fish for flounder, shrimp, rock crabs, blue crabs. crawfish and other tasty seafood. George remind me of an old wise man that had nothing to say but nice things about every. But most of all about his alligators, because they meant the world to him.

    Wheaher you know it or not George the the man that put the “O” in Ocularist George many years before we know what the word meant. George helped millions (and I mean millions) of people throughout this world and we all own him a lot.

    LOVE YOU GEORGE…. and Save a bowl of gumbo for me.

  10. Avatar for Mary Jane Conley Mary Jane Conley on May 27, 2020 at 9:15 am

    Kaye, I am so sorry for your loss. Your dad was the most wonderful person and did an outstanding job making glass eyes. If I remember correctly, he told me he had twin sons, and showed pictures to my husband and I.
    In 1978 my 15 month old baby was diagnosed with retnablastoma. He lost his eye. Dr. Constance did a beautiful job. Your dad had a heart of gold. One day he asked if I would donate the first eye to another child in need of one. He was going to Mexico with several glass eyes to put on children and I think adults too. From then on I would always donate my sons glass eye. My son loved his office full of alligators. May he RIP.

  11. Avatar for James Blaise James Blaise on June 4, 2020 at 7:31 am

    Kaye,
    I am very sorry for your loss. I have no doubt that he is in heaven bring comfort to those who are with him. I also was a patient of your dad’s. George made both of my prosthesis. My mom would take me to see him in both Puebla, Mexico and in Houston.
    This is a perfect title for this thread. George was an angel. His patience, care for the ones who needed it most, selflessness, dedication, and peaceful demeanor is what made him so different from everyone else. I also remember eating oysters with him in both his office and in his house in Lake Jackson. But who can forget about his alligators? Rest in peace George!

  12. Avatar for Carolyn Chase Carolyn Chase on June 4, 2021 at 5:49 am

    Hi Kaye,
    My Dear Friend George…. what a guy! he created several artificial eye for me form 1983 until I couldn’t find him any more. George always said I was one of his pickiest patience. Poni was another one of those… Sure your Dad was great at artificial eyes but that was just the beginning of his story. He shared alot with me from his Mom funeral, his brother, etc.. He brought out the the best in patients and provided for those who didn’t have resources, including Thanksgiving turkeys from some who lived close to him.
    I lost my eye when a assailant stabbed me and cut my optic nerve. The was the beginning of God’s mercy and continued with George. My PTSD had really ramped up. After about 3 months of appointments (no he didn’t need them, I did!)George one day said to me “self pity was in the dictionary between syphilis and suicided. I yelled at him saying “George I get it!!”
    Many, many more tales of my beloved George, please contact me for more legacy tales.

    You are both Blessings!
    Carolyn

  13. Avatar for Carolyn Chase Carolyn Chase on June 4, 2021 at 5:52 am

    Please excuse my spelling… just have cataract surgery in my remaining eye – can’t see very well….
    C

  14. Avatar for James Turnipseed James Turnipseed on September 15, 2021 at 3:02 am

    Kaye,
    I was born blind in my left eye. I met him when I was 5 years old when he was working for the Soper brothers. He made my first artificial eye and took care of me for a few years. Then one day my mom called for an appointment and they said he no longer worked here and did not know where he was. My mom worked at Diagnostic Clinic in the medical center for 40 years, she started looking for your dad and found him! I was a patient of his from 1973-2003. He was an AWESOME MAN! So kind, saw me from kindergarten till I graduated from college and he actually met my wife and 2 kids through the years. He worked with my mom on payment plans when making me a new eye ( I bet he made 5 for me over a 30 year period), you dad was an awesome man! I now go to Robin Dudash on Montrose, she is not your dad, but a close second, NOBODY was better than your dad, be proud of him! If you ever want to chat, shoot me an email at Jayseed2002@yahoo.com

  15. Avatar for Lela Johnstone Lela Johnstone on February 24, 2022 at 4:14 am

    Hi, my name is Lela and I worked with your dad in 1979 at Soper Brothers in Houston. I was 19 at the time and I was the receptionist and trainer for contact lens wearers. Your dad taught me how to polish the prosthetic eyes and encouraged me to continue my career in ophthalmology, he even paid for my course to get certified as an ophthalmic assistant. Your dad loved to talk and I remember his stories about growing up in Louisiana, he was a Cajun through and through. I now have been in ophthalmology for 43 years and working in retina for 40 of those years. I thank you dad for pointing me in the right direction and giving me the encouragement to follow my dreams. He was truly loved by his patients and staff. I’m so sorry to hear of his passing. The last time I saw your dad was in 1989, we had dinner, talked about the old days and had lots of laughs.

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