0:00:04 > 0:00:08I was in this black hole, and this light appeared.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13And you can't believe it.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17You can't believe that what you're seeing is light.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22And I moved my head to the left..
0:00:24 > 0:00:29..and I saw just a glimpse of blue...
0:00:34 > 0:00:38..and it dawned on me, "Oh, that must be the sky!"
0:00:40 > 0:00:45I hadn't seen anything for 12 years.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48But I did actually say to Mr Liu, I says,
0:00:48 > 0:00:49"If at all possible..."
0:00:50 > 0:00:53"..then as soon as you take the bandages off",
0:00:53 > 0:00:57I says, "The first person that I want to see is me wife."
0:01:01 > 0:01:03'For some people who are blind,
0:01:03 > 0:01:05'there is a remarkable surgical procedure
0:01:05 > 0:01:08'which offers them the chance to see again.'
0:01:10 > 0:01:13'The patient's tooth is fitted with a tiny lens
0:01:13 > 0:01:16'and implanted in their eye.'
0:01:16 > 0:01:19How long has the longest person been blind for
0:01:19 > 0:01:21who's come in front of you?
0:01:21 > 0:01:26Oh, well, they could have been blind for...decades.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28For decades? Decades, yeah.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32And they come to you and they get their sight back?
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Yes, that is the case, yeah.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39For Ian Tibbetts, this procedure is a last resort.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46He faces a lifetime of blindness and will never see his twin sons,
0:01:46 > 0:01:50unless the surgery he is about to undergo actually works.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54The operation don't bother me.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59The nervous bit's going to be Thursday
0:01:59 > 0:02:02when them bandages come off, whether I can see or not see.
0:02:04 > 0:02:05That's the nervous bit.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Pepper, behave. DOG BARKS
0:02:22 > 0:02:25Just close that to.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28DOG BARKS
0:02:28 > 0:02:30This is my wife, Alex.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35Where are they?
0:02:35 > 0:02:37One's by me. The other one's on the other chair.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39Now, which one's which?
0:02:39 > 0:02:41This one's Callum. Callum.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44The eldest of me sons, my twins.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47And there's Ryan.
0:02:48 > 0:02:49For most of his adult life,
0:02:49 > 0:02:52Ian Tibbetts has been slowly going blind.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57'About 14 years ago he had a corneal abscess on the right eye.'
0:02:57 > 0:02:59They said he'd see again after a month
0:02:59 > 0:03:03after he had the treatment, but it never did.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Ooh! Sorry!
0:03:06 > 0:03:09Oh, straight in my jaw! Watch what you're doing!
0:03:10 > 0:03:12And then the left eye
0:03:12 > 0:03:17has just been going down for the last six, seven years,
0:03:17 > 0:03:18slowly going worse and worse.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23I'm totally blind in one eye...
0:03:23 > 0:03:26and the other, I can just make shapes out.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32Every operation on Ian's eyes has always ended in failure.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35But now there is hope.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41After months of assessment he is about to undergo the radical surgery
0:03:41 > 0:03:43which might allow him to see again.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50'The most precious thing to see in life'
0:03:50 > 0:03:54will be seeing my sons grow up day by day without struggling.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59People keep telling me they're cute, they're gorgeous.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01I can't see them.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05There's a lot of things he wants to see,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08but seeing the boys' faces is the first thing he wants to see.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13He wants to see them, he says, even if it's only once.
0:04:15 > 0:04:16For the first time ever.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27The surgery Ian faces is drastic.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34Called OOKP, the entire front of the eye
0:04:34 > 0:04:37is replaced by something very different.
0:04:39 > 0:04:44At the heart of this new eye is a plastic lens inserted into a tooth.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Because it is the patient's own tooth,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52the lens will not be rejected by the patient's body.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59'They told me that it involved taking a tooth,
0:04:59 > 0:05:05'placing a lens in the tooth and putting it in your eye.'
0:05:05 > 0:05:11Now, I've had some very, er,
0:05:11 > 0:05:13good nights on the beer
0:05:13 > 0:05:17and even that, I couldn't have even dreamt that up,
0:05:17 > 0:05:19so how they actually dreamt that up I don't know.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34I'm very, very proud of it.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38It's my little sapphire.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45And although the disfigurement does bother me,
0:05:45 > 0:05:46I'd be lying if I said it didn't...
0:05:48 > 0:05:52..it pales into insignificance, because I can see.
0:06:04 > 0:06:05'The procedure only works
0:06:05 > 0:06:09'for patients with rare types of corneal blindness,
0:06:09 > 0:06:12'and only one surgeon in Britain performs it.'
0:06:13 > 0:06:16What sort of vision does OOKP give you?
0:06:16 > 0:06:18It can be very good.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21Some patients see all the way down the chart.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23What, even the smallest letters?
0:06:23 > 0:06:25Yes.
0:06:28 > 0:06:29Daddy!
0:06:29 > 0:06:32Daddy, kiss!
0:06:32 > 0:06:37'Ian is about to leave for the Sussex Eye Hospital in Brighton.'
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Daddy, a kiss.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43'Like all OOKP patients, he will need two operations
0:06:43 > 0:06:46'to restore his sight, separated by several months.'
0:06:48 > 0:06:50'The first is tomorrow.'
0:06:53 > 0:06:54You be good boys for Mummy.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58Oh, I'll ring you when I get down there. OK.
0:07:00 > 0:07:01Right, get me seat belt on.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04'Ian's father-in-law Brian is driving him down.'
0:07:04 > 0:07:06Here we go, mate.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08It is hot.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12No... No turning back.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16Bye-bye, Telford. Yep.
0:07:19 > 0:07:20'It's a chance.'
0:07:22 > 0:07:25'In his mind, then, he knows he's done everything he can
0:07:25 > 0:07:27'to try and get his sight back.'
0:07:30 > 0:07:34In the future, if it doesn't work, he can say, "At least I tried."
0:07:38 > 0:07:40'I'm nervous for Ian. I'm, er...
0:07:40 > 0:07:43'I don't want it to fail, yes, so I am nervous, yes.'
0:07:44 > 0:07:47Here you go, son. Cheers, Brian.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50If this operation doesn't work for him, that's it.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53It's finished, that's it.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55There's nothing else at the moment anybody could do.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02The percentage of success is good.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08What I normally quote them is two-thirds to three-quarters
0:08:08 > 0:08:12see well for a very long time.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14OK, then, my lad, this is it.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Ah, thank you very much.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20Hang on in there. I'll give you a bell in the week or something.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23Yep, OK. And if you want anything, don't ring me.
0:08:23 > 0:08:24OK? Cheers.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26Yes, thank you very much, Brian.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28OK. Good luck, kid. Yeah.
0:08:28 > 0:08:29Ta-ra. Thanks a lot.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38I couldn't get in quick enough, I really couldn't. I just...
0:08:38 > 0:08:40I thought, "This is my chance, this is my chance.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44"Just think, in four months' time, I might be able to see."
0:08:49 > 0:08:51I've prayed for this day.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54And now it's here...
0:08:54 > 0:08:55I'm quite nervous.
0:08:59 > 0:09:00More nervous than...
0:09:02 > 0:09:05More nervous than I've ever been, like.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09Where's Daddy, Ryan?
0:09:10 > 0:09:11He's in hospital.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Having his eyes done.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19I'm scared to death they are going to pick up on me,
0:09:19 > 0:09:23being nervous, after what happened to Ian with his last op,
0:09:23 > 0:09:24when he died on the table.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31OK, now take deep breaths.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35'In 2007, Ian had an extreme allergic reaction
0:09:35 > 0:09:38'during an operation for a detached retina.'
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Lift your arm. Deep breaths.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44'For several minutes, his heart stopped.'
0:09:44 > 0:09:46Take a full breath and hold.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50Every operation he has now he's got that going through his head that...
0:09:50 > 0:09:54that could happen and he could die and this time not come back.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02He did tell us that he died on the operating table
0:10:02 > 0:10:03and they had to revive him,
0:10:03 > 0:10:09but we have done a very thorough assessment
0:10:09 > 0:10:12as to the agents he might have been allergic to,
0:10:12 > 0:10:14and we definitely will be avoiding those agents.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18But he is very frightened.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22He is amongst the most anxious of all the patients
0:10:22 > 0:10:23I've operated on so far.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32SHE SIGHS
0:10:34 > 0:10:36Ah, yeah, he'll be all right.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42Just going to hope and pray that nothing happens.
0:10:44 > 0:10:45I should be OK.
0:10:50 > 0:10:51Do you love doing it?
0:10:51 > 0:10:55I love seeing the results,
0:10:55 > 0:10:56but the process of doing it...
0:10:58 > 0:11:00..sometimes can be challenging.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04How are we doing, Jim?
0:11:04 > 0:11:07OOKP is not a new procedure,
0:11:07 > 0:11:09but Christopher Liu has refined the techniques
0:11:09 > 0:11:12over the past 16 years.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15He only operates on a handful of patients a year,
0:11:15 > 0:11:18since very few are suitable for this extreme surgery.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22OK, happy? Yes, thank you. Lovely.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25In the first step, one of Ian's teeth,
0:11:25 > 0:11:27along with a piece of jaw bone,
0:11:27 > 0:11:31is cut from his mouth and shaped into a block.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34It's actually quite a small tooth for a big man, isn't it?
0:11:34 > 0:11:37OK, team, I think we can only use a small cylinder
0:11:37 > 0:11:39because the tooth root is quite narrow.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44'A hole is then drilled through the root of the tooth.'
0:11:44 > 0:11:46So here we have a nice specimen.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49It's a bit on the narrow side, but that's how he was made.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55'Next, a plastic lens is coated with glue and set into the hole.'
0:11:57 > 0:11:59That's what he will see through.
0:12:03 > 0:12:07'But the tooth won't be implanted in Ian's eye in this operation.'
0:12:10 > 0:12:11Keep lifting up.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16'Instead, it is sewn into a pocket of skin below his other eye.'
0:12:18 > 0:12:21OK, so that's where it's going to live.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24'By the time Ian has his next operation a few months from now,
0:12:24 > 0:12:27'it will have grown its own soft tissues.
0:12:27 > 0:12:32'It can then be removed and stitched into Ian's left eye -
0:12:32 > 0:12:35'the eye through which it is hoped he will one day see.'
0:12:41 > 0:12:43TWINS SING
0:12:47 > 0:12:50SHE SIGHS
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Come on.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00'It is now three hours since Ian's operation began.'
0:13:00 > 0:13:03OK, so this is the piece we are going to use.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07'A piece of skin has been cut from the inside of his cheek,
0:13:07 > 0:13:10'which will shortly be stitched over his left eyeball.'
0:13:12 > 0:13:15'In time, this will form the front of his new eye.'
0:13:18 > 0:13:21ELECTRONIC BEEPING
0:13:21 > 0:13:26'But before the team can continue, Ian's neck begins to swell.'
0:13:26 > 0:13:28What's the problem? Swollen, swelling?
0:13:28 > 0:13:31OK... OK
0:13:33 > 0:13:36Yes, yes, I understand.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38Can we lower it, please?
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Patient's got swelling round the neck
0:13:40 > 0:13:42and that's an indication of something
0:13:42 > 0:13:44that he may be allergic to.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48'The swelling rapidly spreads to other parts of Ian's body.'
0:13:49 > 0:13:51Is he swollen everywhere now?
0:13:51 > 0:13:53'Despite all the precautions taken,
0:13:53 > 0:13:56'it seems that one of the drugs he's been given
0:13:56 > 0:13:59'is triggering an allergic reaction -
0:13:59 > 0:14:01'exactly what Ian feared most.'
0:14:05 > 0:14:07Well...
0:14:09 > 0:14:10What time is it?
0:14:10 > 0:14:11Ten past...
0:14:16 > 0:14:19So...how safe is this man now?
0:14:20 > 0:14:22'Given what happened in his last operation,
0:14:22 > 0:14:25'Ian has been using a breathing tube this time.'
0:14:26 > 0:14:30'Although his neck is swollen, there is no danger of suffocation.'
0:14:31 > 0:14:33He's, um...
0:14:34 > 0:14:37..having an allergic reaction to something.
0:14:38 > 0:14:44From what I know, for the moment I can continue the operation,
0:14:44 > 0:14:48and then he will need to be transferred to intensive care.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52'Christopher completes the operation,
0:14:52 > 0:14:55'stitching the piece of cheek over Ian's left eye.'
0:14:58 > 0:15:03'From now until his next operation, he will be totally blind.'
0:15:03 > 0:15:06I'm just going to inspect, to make sure everything is all right.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11Now we can see how swollen the neck is as well.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16Oh, it's not too bad at all.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19And that's the new skin, white because there's no blood,
0:15:19 > 0:15:21so that has been stitched on nicely.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28'Immediately the operation is over,
0:15:28 > 0:15:30'Ian is transferred to intensive care.'
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Basically, what we are doing is we are taking over his body
0:15:35 > 0:15:38and keeping him safe until the swelling is reduced
0:15:38 > 0:15:40and we can take the breathing tube out.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45Hello, may I speak to Mrs Tibbetts, please?
0:15:45 > 0:15:46'You are, yes.'
0:15:46 > 0:15:49It's Mr Liu here, phoning from the Sussex Eye Hospital in Brighton.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51'Yes.'
0:15:51 > 0:15:55So Ian's operation has been completed
0:15:55 > 0:15:57and you remember that he told me
0:15:57 > 0:16:01that he died on the table and was resuscitated?
0:16:02 > 0:16:05OK, so we were very, very cautious today.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09But he still had some kind of allergic reaction
0:16:09 > 0:16:11so, to be very cautious,
0:16:11 > 0:16:17we have transferred him across the road to intensive care. OK.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20It's not like it was last time, is it?
0:16:20 > 0:16:21It's not life and death?
0:16:22 > 0:16:25'No, no, no. I spoke to the anaesthetist'
0:16:25 > 0:16:29and he told me that he is not worried. OK?
0:16:29 > 0:16:32So it's not a full-blown anaphylactic shock.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49CHILD WHIMPERS
0:16:49 > 0:16:51OK. Come here, come here...
0:16:51 > 0:16:54'It takes nearly losing them to realise how much you love them.'
0:16:57 > 0:17:00I can't put in words for how much I love him
0:17:00 > 0:17:01and how much I'm proud of him.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06And how much I want him to see.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25After 48 hours in intensive care,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29Ian has recovered sufficiently to return to the ward.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34While he waits for his next operation a few months from now,
0:17:34 > 0:17:37he will have no sight at all.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39Good morning. Good morning, Mr Tibbetts.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41Good morning. You're back with us!
0:17:41 > 0:17:44OK, now don't expect to see. Remember you've got
0:17:44 > 0:17:47a piece of new skin over the eye.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49Now lift your chin up,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52face the world boldly and squarely.
0:17:52 > 0:17:53That's it.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56How are you?
0:17:56 > 0:17:58A little sore. Mmm.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03Mr Liu does everything possible for his patients.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07Everything, he goes that journey with you and we all trust him...
0:18:08 > 0:18:11..and know that he will do that for us.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13Is that tender at all?
0:18:13 > 0:18:16So that's wonderful, that's where the tooth is, OK?
0:18:16 > 0:18:19Yeah. And also the optical cylinder.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23Now we have a look at your left eye, OK?
0:18:24 > 0:18:26I'm just going to prise this open a little.
0:18:26 > 0:18:27And it's wonderful
0:18:27 > 0:18:31because underneath it's acquiring a blood supply nicely, OK?
0:18:33 > 0:18:36Can I have a look at where the skin has been taken from?
0:18:36 > 0:18:39Where did we take the skin from?
0:18:39 > 0:18:41Right cheek. Right cheek, OK.
0:18:41 > 0:18:46'It felt like it took all the side of my face off.'
0:18:46 > 0:18:48It was that sore.
0:18:48 > 0:18:55And he'd probably only taken a couple of inch,
0:18:55 > 0:18:59but every time I felt the scar....
0:18:59 > 0:19:03Ian, so far, so good, OK? Well done.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06OK, thank you. Fabulous.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09'Well, it can be a challenging time after stage one...'
0:19:10 > 0:19:13'..but generally they manage because they all hope
0:19:13 > 0:19:16'and yearn for stage two when they can see again.'
0:19:18 > 0:19:22But I never promise a result,
0:19:22 > 0:19:26because it's better to under-promise and over-deliver.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31When people expect too much, then they can only be disappointed.
0:19:34 > 0:19:35Bit strange today.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41Missing the boys already.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00Just been going through a few photos albums on the side here
0:20:00 > 0:20:02that I've got to put back in the cupboard.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04I just found that one of him.
0:20:04 > 0:20:05I think that was '98,
0:20:05 > 0:20:08before the main trouble started with his eyes.
0:20:11 > 0:20:1716 years ago, he'd be a lot thinner, bubbly, confident.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21She was in a pub, actually.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24Blind date type thing.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26After the first couple of times
0:20:26 > 0:20:28we'd seen each other, it just clicked then.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32Really haven't looked back since.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37And that one's just one I found of the two of us
0:20:37 > 0:20:40that I actually don't mind looking at myself on.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45He used to love to run, he used to be always on his bike.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47He'd go everywhere on his bike.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54I was in the room sat right next to her while she was giving birth.
0:20:56 > 0:20:57Cried my eyes out.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06She's had a lot to cope with over the last few years.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13If it wasn't for Alex and her family...
0:21:15 > 0:21:16..dunno where I'd be.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35Hello! Go on then, go and get him.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37Ah! Ha-ha!
0:21:37 > 0:21:38Ah!
0:21:40 > 0:21:43Daddy missed you pair, you know.
0:21:43 > 0:21:44You done the eyes.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46Daddy's got a poorly eye, look.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52Watch yourself a minute while Daddy gets it up, then.
0:21:52 > 0:21:53Where are you?
0:21:53 > 0:21:57Give it to Daddy a minute, you can have it back.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59If you hold it like that, look...
0:22:00 > 0:22:01..and you go like that.
0:22:05 > 0:22:06Here you are, then.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09See, you use it like that. You'll have to hold it
0:22:09 > 0:22:11a bit further down for you, though, because it's a bit high.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14It's a bit high for me to do it.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16Look, Daddy, look, Daddy.
0:22:16 > 0:22:17ALEX: Daddy can't see.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19Daddy can't see, babs. What you got?
0:22:19 > 0:22:21Show Daddy, what you got?
0:22:21 > 0:22:23Puffa Pete. You got Puffa Pete!
0:22:24 > 0:22:26It's nice just to listen to them sometimes.
0:22:30 > 0:22:31Daddy can't see you.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34I want to see your eye, I want to see your eye.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36Daddy has to feel for you, see.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48'The eye is truly wonderful.'
0:22:51 > 0:22:55'And the way it's connected to the brain as well,
0:22:55 > 0:22:57'and to the person's mind and soul.'
0:22:57 > 0:22:59It is truly incredible.
0:23:03 > 0:23:08The first time I did a cataract operation was quite a big deal
0:23:08 > 0:23:13because I was cutting into an eye and removing a cataract.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21I thought, "Yeah, that's quite a cool thing to do,"
0:23:21 > 0:23:24but also there's a great big responsibility
0:23:24 > 0:23:30because that person's sight depended on my carrying this out properly.
0:23:32 > 0:23:37I think to have sight and then to lose it,
0:23:37 > 0:23:39you'd really miss it.
0:23:40 > 0:23:41Big time.
0:23:44 > 0:23:50I never ever dreamt that anything like this would happen to me,
0:23:50 > 0:23:52especially at such a young age.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58All the years I was blind, it was...
0:23:58 > 0:24:00trying to subdue the panic,
0:24:00 > 0:24:04it was a constant feeling of panic.
0:24:04 > 0:24:05"Keep calm."
0:24:05 > 0:24:08I used to keep telling myself to keep calm, keep calm...
0:24:08 > 0:24:09Don't...
0:24:09 > 0:24:12Because the frustration is unbearable.
0:24:12 > 0:24:19I used to do quite crazy things like pot-holing and scuba-diving...
0:24:21 > 0:24:25..and your life can literally change in one second.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28But I just thought, "I can still get about.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32"I can still go in and feel and touch and smell
0:24:32 > 0:24:34"and hear different things."
0:24:34 > 0:24:36So it's not beating it, it's accepting
0:24:36 > 0:24:41that now there are different things
0:24:41 > 0:24:44that will give you pleasure in life.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47For me I was dead,
0:24:47 > 0:24:52I was dead and yet I was breathing. That's how it felt.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02For several months, Ian waits for his second operation.
0:25:04 > 0:25:05But each day is a struggle
0:25:05 > 0:25:08as he tries to come to terms with total blindness -
0:25:08 > 0:25:12a condition that might be permanent if the operation fails.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14When you can stab it.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19There! You keep chasing it round the plate.
0:25:19 > 0:25:20There...
0:25:20 > 0:25:22Stop.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24There.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26That's it, you've got it.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29'He hates losing his independence.'
0:25:29 > 0:25:32That it? You've got one more chip over the far side.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35And it can also be hell for the one watching.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41Trying not to do everything...
0:25:43 > 0:25:46..but at the same time, he's expecting it.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Trying to give him that little bit of independence,
0:25:50 > 0:25:53but only if he is willing to take it.
0:26:19 > 0:26:20'Like being in a prison cell.'
0:26:23 > 0:26:25Quiet.
0:26:27 > 0:26:28Echoes.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32And dark.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43Sometimes I don't want to even wake up.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52'When it comes to emotions, he can be a closed book.'
0:26:54 > 0:26:56He's even said that sometimes,
0:26:56 > 0:26:59that no-one knows how much he's crying inside.
0:27:04 > 0:27:08Daddy? Daddy, can you see me?
0:27:10 > 0:27:13'I want him to be able to see everything the boys can do.'
0:27:17 > 0:27:20They know that Daddy can't see,
0:27:20 > 0:27:24but they forget just what that means -
0:27:24 > 0:27:27that Daddy can't read to them,
0:27:27 > 0:27:29that Daddy can't see new pictures they've done.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31He just can't see.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37They're the miracle he's missing.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47You have a good night, sweet pea.
0:27:54 > 0:27:55Come here, you.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59'Tonight, Ian returns to Brighton for his final operation.'
0:28:01 > 0:28:06'24 hours after that, his bandages will be removed.'
0:28:06 > 0:28:08Just think - next time you do this, hopefully...
0:28:10 > 0:28:13..I won't need to follow you because you'll be able to see.
0:28:16 > 0:28:17'I've counted these days down.'
0:28:19 > 0:28:22'I've counted every single one down day by day.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24'To now.'
0:28:27 > 0:28:28I'll give him a kiss.
0:28:31 > 0:28:32Good night, sweet pea.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43'The operation don't bother me.'
0:28:47 > 0:28:49'The nervous bit's going to be Thursday.'
0:28:53 > 0:28:56'When them bandages come off.'
0:28:59 > 0:29:01'That's the nervous bit.
0:29:01 > 0:29:05'That's what's been playing on my mind now for the last few months.'
0:29:07 > 0:29:09'Three days to see, hopefully.'
0:29:13 > 0:29:14'I don't know.'
0:29:17 > 0:29:18'Really don't know what'll happen.'
0:29:21 > 0:29:22All right, then, Ian...
0:29:22 > 0:29:24Oi!
0:29:25 > 0:29:27Good luck, and I'll see you in the morning before you go down.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31If you can manage to be awake then it would be advantageous.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33I don't know when I'll be awake.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35Good luck, anyway. You'll be all right.
0:29:35 > 0:29:36We'll see you in the morning. OK, mate?
0:29:36 > 0:29:40I'll be awake, they wake me at six o'clock. Cheers.
0:29:40 > 0:29:41See you later, mate.
0:29:44 > 0:29:45Give us a kiss, then.
0:29:48 > 0:29:49'If the worst comes to the worst,
0:29:49 > 0:29:51'I'll just knuckle down and that's it.'
0:29:52 > 0:29:54'I just can't say what it'll do for Ian.'
0:29:56 > 0:29:58He's the one that's got to live with it.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03Live with the darkness if that's the case.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13I do actually get slightly anxious...
0:30:13 > 0:30:16before OOKP surgery
0:30:16 > 0:30:20because it's such a big undertaking, surgically,
0:30:20 > 0:30:23and it also means so much...
0:30:23 > 0:30:24to patients.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35It's a big day, cos, hopefully...
0:30:35 > 0:30:40this will conclude... OOKP surgery for him.
0:30:40 > 0:30:44And hopefully tomorrow when the bandages come off then...
0:30:44 > 0:30:47he'll be able to see, fingers crossed.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55I do...have some anxiety.
0:30:59 > 0:31:01And sometimes I say a prayer.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12Despite the challenges, there is one less concern.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17Ian recently had further extensive allergy tests
0:31:17 > 0:31:19and there is now little risk
0:31:19 > 0:31:22of a reaction to any of the drugs used in the operation.
0:31:26 > 0:31:27'I know he's in good hands...'
0:31:29 > 0:31:30'..but that just doesn't...
0:31:30 > 0:31:33'That's not going to stop me from being nervous.'
0:31:36 > 0:31:38OK, here we go.
0:31:40 > 0:31:41That's good.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46'For several months, Ian's tooth, fitted with its lens,
0:31:46 > 0:31:50'has been sealed under his lower right eyelid.'
0:31:50 > 0:31:51Are we OK now?
0:31:52 > 0:31:55'Christopher Liu now removes and prepares it
0:31:55 > 0:31:58'for stitching into Ian's left eye later in the operation.'
0:31:59 > 0:32:02So my job now is to take away
0:32:02 > 0:32:05excess soft tissues...
0:32:05 > 0:32:09but still leaving some for use for stitching.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12'To avoid any damage to the tooth and its lens,
0:32:12 > 0:32:14'Christopher makes a template.'
0:32:15 > 0:32:17So we'll be using this for surgery
0:32:17 > 0:32:21until we really need the real lamina, and this
0:32:21 > 0:32:24is now going into a bath of fresh blood
0:32:24 > 0:32:28for the next couple of hours, so it'll be nourished.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34'The concentration...'
0:32:35 > 0:32:37'..is total.
0:32:37 > 0:32:41'And I really dislike distractions.'
0:32:44 > 0:32:48'You have to make very, very fine movements,
0:32:48 > 0:32:49'and you need to keep your focus.'
0:32:59 > 0:33:03'Christopher now peels back the skin grafted over Ian's left eye
0:33:03 > 0:33:07'and begins to remove the entire front of the eyeball -
0:33:07 > 0:33:10'a procedure that cannot be reversed.'
0:33:10 > 0:33:14Right. Can I open the eye now with the blade?
0:33:23 > 0:33:25Take one minute break.
0:33:34 > 0:33:36OK, ready when you're ready.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40'The tooth, along with its lens,
0:33:40 > 0:33:43'is finally implanted into Ian's left eye.'
0:33:46 > 0:33:48Fine, thank you very much.
0:33:50 > 0:33:54'The piece of skin from Ian's cheek is then stitched back over his eye,
0:33:54 > 0:33:57'leaving a hole for the lens -
0:33:57 > 0:34:01'the window through which it is hoped Ian will see again.'
0:34:04 > 0:34:07'The entire operation has taken four hours.'
0:34:09 > 0:34:11'So we've completed the operation.'
0:34:13 > 0:34:17We'll, um, wait to see what happens tomorrow when we...
0:34:17 > 0:34:18take the bandages off.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23I feel like as if I've got a ton of butterflies in my stomach...
0:34:25 > 0:34:27..and they're fighting to get out.
0:34:30 > 0:34:34And then he'll either be able to see or not?
0:34:34 > 0:34:35Yeah, basically.
0:34:43 > 0:34:47At quarter to two, Christopher came with a nurse
0:34:47 > 0:34:51and he said, "I'm just going to take a look at this,"
0:34:51 > 0:34:54and, as after most operations,
0:34:54 > 0:34:58I thought he was just coming to check the op site,
0:34:58 > 0:35:01you know, see if it wasn't bleeding or whatever.
0:35:01 > 0:35:06And I was lying back on the bed, of course,
0:35:06 > 0:35:10and he took the pads off and I had my head back...
0:35:11 > 0:35:14..looking at the ceiling, I suppose,
0:35:14 > 0:35:17and I saw this white burning light.
0:35:17 > 0:35:22So...really severe, it was painful - white.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25And, of course, I was looking at the ceiling!
0:35:25 > 0:35:27And I didn't realise it, I just thought it was white.
0:35:27 > 0:35:33And I'd never seen light, you know, so it was "Whoa, what's that?"
0:35:33 > 0:35:38And I glanced over to the left for some reason.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41I think, you know, to get away from the light,
0:35:41 > 0:35:42I went like that...
0:35:42 > 0:35:46and there was a window to my left.
0:35:47 > 0:35:51And I could just see, "Is that blue?"
0:35:52 > 0:35:53"Am I looking at a colour?"
0:35:55 > 0:35:57And it dawned on me,
0:35:57 > 0:35:59"Oh! That must be the sky."
0:36:02 > 0:36:07I felt as if somebody had opened up my grave, really,
0:36:07 > 0:36:08and I could get out.
0:36:11 > 0:36:13My jaw must have dropped open
0:36:13 > 0:36:18because Mr Liu said, "You can see, Bunnie, can't you?"
0:36:18 > 0:36:20And I said, "Yes, I can."
0:36:25 > 0:36:27I did actually say to Mr Liu, I says,
0:36:27 > 0:36:30"If at all possible...
0:36:30 > 0:36:32"then as soon as you take the bandages off,
0:36:32 > 0:36:37"the first person that I want to see is me wife."
0:36:37 > 0:36:42So he come in and he just lifted
0:36:42 > 0:36:47the bottom edge up of the, of the bandages,
0:36:47 > 0:36:51and I just thought,
0:36:51 > 0:36:54"Oh, my God, this is it!"
0:36:57 > 0:36:59So he took bandages off and...
0:36:59 > 0:37:02I saw Jill for the first time.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09I've got tears running down me eyes, trying to...
0:37:11 > 0:37:14..focus and see me wife and then...
0:37:16 > 0:37:20..Jill had got tears running down her cheeks and eyes
0:37:20 > 0:37:23for a different reason, and she just sat on the bed
0:37:23 > 0:37:26and she went, "So, what do you think?"
0:37:28 > 0:37:30And I says, "Well, I can see."
0:37:30 > 0:37:33She says, "I know", she says, "What do you think of me?"
0:37:34 > 0:37:37And I says, "You look absolutely gorgeous."
0:37:37 > 0:37:38And she did.
0:37:45 > 0:37:47Where will you be when the bandages come off?
0:37:47 > 0:37:49Hopefully in the room.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54God help him when he has to see me for the first time in ages.
0:37:56 > 0:37:58Are you nervous about that?
0:37:58 > 0:38:01No, he should know what I look like by now.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04He should remember what I look like, I should say.
0:38:04 > 0:38:06I might have put a bit of weight on, but...
0:38:09 > 0:38:11I'm not that... I just hope he's not that disappointed,
0:38:11 > 0:38:14but he should remember what I look like, I haven't changed that much.
0:38:16 > 0:38:20Hello, Mr Tibbett? Yeah. We've come to do your dressing.
0:38:20 > 0:38:24This is Rama the nurse and then Mr Liu, he is also here. Yes.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30How have things been?
0:38:30 > 0:38:32Not too bad. Been comfortable?
0:38:32 > 0:38:34Bit sore. Bit sore.
0:38:34 > 0:38:36Where, on the eye?
0:38:36 > 0:38:39Yeah, I've got a slight headache, but not too bad. OK.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45Ian, is it OK if I...
0:38:46 > 0:38:49..remove the bandages for you now? Yeah. OK.
0:38:52 > 0:38:56Now at the moment, I'm removing your bandage.
0:38:56 > 0:38:57Now don't expect too much, OK?
0:38:57 > 0:39:01Because there's blood and a scab there,
0:39:01 > 0:39:03which all needs to be cleaned off.
0:39:08 > 0:39:09Just cleaning you.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14Do you feel able to open your left eye?
0:39:14 > 0:39:16Or is it all a bit stuck?
0:39:16 > 0:39:19I don't know, I haven't tried yet. Can you try for me?
0:39:24 > 0:39:25Open wide, please.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29So I've just taken off the scab,
0:39:29 > 0:39:35so I don't know whether you feel you're seeing a little now or not.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40Nothing at all, yet. Nothing.
0:39:45 > 0:39:47Look at me - do you see anything?
0:39:47 > 0:39:50No. No. OK.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54NURSE: I'm going to sit you up a bit.
0:39:59 > 0:40:01Right, we're going to try again.
0:40:01 > 0:40:05I'm going to lift your lid up and clean this a little.
0:40:05 > 0:40:07Do you see anything at all?
0:40:09 > 0:40:14Just white. Mm-hm? And a bit of...dark at the top.
0:40:14 > 0:40:19Right. Do you see me moving my hand in front of you at all?
0:40:19 > 0:40:22Just. Which way? Left and right.
0:40:23 > 0:40:25Which way?
0:40:27 > 0:40:29Up and down. OK.
0:40:29 > 0:40:33Just about... Yeah, yeah. That's good, that's good.
0:40:36 > 0:40:38Do you want to have a look at your wife
0:40:38 > 0:40:40and see if you can see her?
0:40:43 > 0:40:48I can make out a slight shape there. Yes. Can you see her face, though?
0:40:48 > 0:40:49No. No?
0:40:49 > 0:40:52Go a little closer, go a little closer.
0:40:54 > 0:40:55No.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01All right. Well, we're going to leave it like that for the moment
0:41:01 > 0:41:07and I'll come back to see you later today or tomorrow, OK?
0:41:08 > 0:41:12How do you feel? A bit nervous. Yeah.
0:41:13 > 0:41:15Don't be disappointed, though, OK?
0:41:15 > 0:41:20Because...this is not necessarily how it's going to be.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22We're hoping for much better things.
0:41:22 > 0:41:24Yeah. All right?
0:41:24 > 0:41:28OK, any questions? Is this normal? Yes, it can be like that.
0:41:28 > 0:41:29They get the sight...
0:41:29 > 0:41:34You know, their sight comes back? Some do, yes. Good, good.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37We're not saying that that is it. Yes.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41And he did see something. Yes, he can see... He can see...
0:41:41 > 0:41:43For sure, he can see light and dark
0:41:43 > 0:41:46and he was able to discern the direction of hand movements.
0:41:46 > 0:41:50So... Just seen your hand then. Yeah, so do you see?
0:41:50 > 0:41:53There is something there, so we'll just have to wait a bit.
0:41:53 > 0:41:54Got to fine-tune it.
0:41:57 > 0:42:01NURSE: I'm going to put a little bit of eye shield over your eye, Ian.
0:42:23 > 0:42:28We... We have to take each day as it comes.
0:42:28 > 0:42:30Um...of course, so far,
0:42:30 > 0:42:34it's a disappointment for him and his family.
0:42:34 > 0:42:36INTERVIEWER: And for you?
0:42:36 > 0:42:40Yeah, I'm disappointed as well, but I'm not giving up hope,
0:42:40 > 0:42:43because it's only day one.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46So we have to be realistic.
0:42:46 > 0:42:50I could have... I could have kissed Mr Liu.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53I could have kissed him. If I'd dared, I would've done.
0:42:55 > 0:42:59I'd never seen Brighton, and I thought,
0:42:59 > 0:43:02"I'm going to open the window and shout 'Hello, Brighton!'"
0:43:06 > 0:43:09And I did - I opened the window and shouted "Hello, Brighton!"
0:43:09 > 0:43:13And all these people turned round, and I waved.
0:43:16 > 0:43:19I was just spelling everything -
0:43:19 > 0:43:23"Oh, Gill, look...all about eyes!" Posters up...
0:43:23 > 0:43:26"Oh, Gill, look - 'hygiene.'"
0:43:26 > 0:43:30"Oh - K-E-1-9."
0:43:30 > 0:43:32"Oh - T-O..."
0:43:32 > 0:43:38She said, "Would you stop it?! You're like a 40-year-old man,
0:43:38 > 0:43:42"who's reading like a five-year-old child!"
0:43:44 > 0:43:47He said, "Now, what does that say there?"
0:43:47 > 0:43:50He was pointing to a notice on the wall.
0:43:50 > 0:43:54I knew what it was, but I couldn't see it.
0:43:55 > 0:44:00He said, "Don't worry - your brain is just registering sight."
0:44:00 > 0:44:03And as I moved away, I said, "Oh, I know what it said.
0:44:03 > 0:44:05"It said 'cataracts'."
0:44:05 > 0:44:06Then I saw a Smart car.
0:44:06 > 0:44:08HE LAUGHS
0:44:08 > 0:44:12I said, "What the hell is that?" and pointed to this.
0:44:12 > 0:44:15And she smiled and smirked and she went,
0:44:15 > 0:44:19"Oh, that's what we call a Smart car."
0:44:19 > 0:44:21I said, "It doesn't look very smart to me!"
0:44:21 > 0:44:24And I looked at the clock and it was ten to two.
0:44:24 > 0:44:30And it was Valentine's Day, February 14th 2003.
0:44:30 > 0:44:34At a quarter to two, that was when I could see again.
0:44:40 > 0:44:42'Can't see nothing at all. Not even my hand, today.'
0:44:42 > 0:44:44'Can't see nothing at all. Not even my hand, today.'
0:44:44 > 0:44:48Just trying not to think about this, at the moment.
0:44:50 > 0:44:52The more I think on it, the more I feel down.
0:44:55 > 0:44:57OK...
0:44:57 > 0:45:01It's a day since Ian's bandages were removed.
0:45:01 > 0:45:03Christopher is about to examine him again
0:45:03 > 0:45:06in the hope that there's been an improvement.
0:45:06 > 0:45:10How about your sight? Has there been any change in your sight?
0:45:10 > 0:45:11No. Hm.
0:45:13 > 0:45:14Do you see anything?
0:45:14 > 0:45:18A light. Light, OK.
0:45:18 > 0:45:20How many fingers are there here?
0:45:24 > 0:45:25Can't tell - one?
0:45:29 > 0:45:30How many fingers are there now?
0:45:32 > 0:45:36Five. Well, that's an improvement. Can you see me?
0:45:37 > 0:45:39No. Look again.
0:45:41 > 0:45:42Not sure.
0:45:44 > 0:45:48All right - well, you know, we can actually try a little bit more.
0:45:48 > 0:45:50Mrs Tibbetts, do you want to come over here?
0:45:50 > 0:45:54Let me shine a light on your face...just here.
0:45:56 > 0:45:57OK - come over here.
0:45:57 > 0:46:01Ian, look at your wife, just over there.
0:46:01 > 0:46:04Do you see anything, any of her?
0:46:07 > 0:46:10I can't make her out. No. OK. Don't worry. Don't worry.
0:46:10 > 0:46:14There's someone there, I just... Hm?
0:46:14 > 0:46:16I can see a shape, I just can't make it out.
0:46:16 > 0:46:18No - not to worry, not to worry.
0:46:20 > 0:46:25OK - we are in front of your room now and we're going to turn left.
0:46:25 > 0:46:29'Of course, I wish that on day one, he had seen straight away,
0:46:29 > 0:46:33'but we're not in that situation.'
0:46:33 > 0:46:36All I can do is to give him support and encouragement,
0:46:36 > 0:46:38but not raise his hopes too much.
0:46:38 > 0:46:41But I still feel that, in time, he should see.
0:46:42 > 0:46:44I reckon by Christmas, you'll be seeing well enough
0:46:44 > 0:46:46to buy me a pint.
0:46:48 > 0:46:49Hm?
0:46:52 > 0:46:55I tell you what, you can buy me one and all.
0:46:57 > 0:46:58You might just see me drink
0:46:58 > 0:47:00the first ever pint of beer I'll ever drink.
0:47:03 > 0:47:05Might be sick after it, but...
0:47:09 > 0:47:11One he counted five fingers...
0:47:13 > 0:47:15That's when my spirits went right up.
0:47:16 > 0:47:18And they haven't come down yet.
0:47:24 > 0:47:27And as you're sitting here right now, what are you seeing?
0:47:32 > 0:47:33Lime green.
0:47:36 > 0:47:40A couple of black shadows...
0:47:40 > 0:47:44I don't know whether they're you or not. I'm not sure.
0:47:45 > 0:47:48It's, like, over there, like a shadow.
0:47:50 > 0:47:51I can't tell what it is.
0:47:53 > 0:47:56And a slight one over there, I think.
0:47:59 > 0:48:02And the lime green, where is that? All over.
0:48:05 > 0:48:07Around the shadows? Yeah.
0:48:07 > 0:48:10Well, the shadows are actually, I think,
0:48:10 > 0:48:13Trevor and my sound recordist here,
0:48:13 > 0:48:17and the walls of this room are lime green.
0:48:17 > 0:48:21Trevor, I've seen Trevor move... He's seen the dark shadow move.
0:48:21 > 0:48:22I can see his face, slightly.
0:48:25 > 0:48:28So, just... Trevor's going to move a little bit.
0:48:32 > 0:48:35Gone to the right. Yep.
0:48:40 > 0:48:43To the left. Looking at me.
0:48:46 > 0:48:48With a camera, I think.
0:48:51 > 0:48:54Kneeling down or crouching down.
0:48:58 > 0:49:00I just saw his face, then.
0:49:00 > 0:49:02You poor thing!
0:49:02 > 0:49:04HE LAUGHS
0:49:04 > 0:49:06I can actually see his hand, there.
0:49:10 > 0:49:12Holding the camera.
0:49:14 > 0:49:16See? I told you it was coming back.
0:49:18 > 0:49:19Huh...
0:49:20 > 0:49:23There. Somebody there.
0:49:29 > 0:49:30HE SNIFFS
0:49:37 > 0:49:38Maybe to my left?
0:49:41 > 0:49:44Yeah, but did you see that or did you hear it? Seen it.
0:49:44 > 0:49:45Just checking!
0:49:47 > 0:49:51I see Trevor's got a short-sleeved top on.
0:49:51 > 0:49:53Trevor? Yeah. I have, yeah.
0:50:00 > 0:50:03That is definitely further than you've seen
0:50:03 > 0:50:04in a hell of a long time.
0:50:07 > 0:50:08You got a watch on?
0:50:10 > 0:50:13No. But you're not far off it. Something on your wrist.
0:50:13 > 0:50:16Black, I think. Or a dark colour, anyway.
0:50:18 > 0:50:21There. Yeah. Oh, it's your puppy band.
0:50:24 > 0:50:25Move your hand.
0:50:29 > 0:50:31Purple top. Yes.
0:50:35 > 0:50:37Hey...you're there...
0:50:37 > 0:50:39Where?
0:50:40 > 0:50:42There. Yep. That's me.
0:50:42 > 0:50:45Can't make out properly, but...
0:50:45 > 0:50:47It'll come.
0:50:48 > 0:50:51And I've got all the time in the world to wait.
0:50:54 > 0:50:55Eh?
0:51:03 > 0:51:04Just amazing.
0:51:08 > 0:51:10All right, Tibby?
0:51:10 > 0:51:12What am I wearing?
0:51:12 > 0:51:14Birthday suit. OK...
0:51:14 > 0:51:16LAUGHTER
0:51:16 > 0:51:17Apart from that.
0:51:21 > 0:51:24Too close to me. Too close?
0:51:24 > 0:51:26Red T-shirt.
0:51:26 > 0:51:28Trying to figure what else you've got on...
0:51:28 > 0:51:31Right. But I'm not showing you my undies.
0:51:31 > 0:51:33HE LAUGHS
0:51:33 > 0:51:35You improve like this, you can drive home.
0:51:43 > 0:51:45I remember that day as well, going home.
0:51:45 > 0:51:47I went for a walk as well.
0:51:47 > 0:51:49We stopped the car and I got out
0:51:49 > 0:51:52and went for a little walk along the river.
0:51:52 > 0:51:55And...it was just wonderful.
0:51:55 > 0:51:57It was wonderful.
0:51:57 > 0:52:01I were meeting friends and going,
0:52:01 > 0:52:03"I know I've been out with you every week,
0:52:03 > 0:52:05"but are you sure you're my friend?"
0:52:05 > 0:52:07Cos I couldn't recognise them,
0:52:07 > 0:52:10they just looked completely different.
0:52:10 > 0:52:13Once I got home, I was taken out in the car
0:52:13 > 0:52:18and we went out of the town and into the mountains,
0:52:18 > 0:52:21and...it was stunningly beautiful.
0:52:22 > 0:52:24You can't take that for granted.
0:52:24 > 0:52:27You must never take what you see for granted.
0:52:28 > 0:52:34And seeing people who had hair before who were completely bald
0:52:34 > 0:52:37and going, "How come you're bald?"
0:52:37 > 0:52:39"Well, I am 12 years older."
0:52:39 > 0:52:43I was back in the world and I was Bunnie Adams again.
0:52:48 > 0:52:50Yeah! Woo!
0:52:50 > 0:52:55It's been a month since Ian was in hospital and first began to see.
0:52:56 > 0:52:59A week ago, his stitches were finally removed.
0:52:59 > 0:53:01Boom!
0:53:01 > 0:53:03The result was dramatic.
0:53:03 > 0:53:08'I came into the kitchen, and put my bag on the floor, like.
0:53:08 > 0:53:12'And Alex was there and I actually seen her face, full-on.
0:53:12 > 0:53:13'For the first time.'
0:53:15 > 0:53:19'I had to blink at first, cos I thought I was seeing things.'
0:53:22 > 0:53:25Took me back years... to when I could see her.
0:53:28 > 0:53:31Mummy, it's finished! You've finished...
0:53:31 > 0:53:33'All of a sudden, he just saw me.'
0:53:33 > 0:53:34Oh!
0:53:36 > 0:53:38Amazing.
0:53:38 > 0:53:40CHILDREN LAUGH
0:53:41 > 0:53:45'When he tried to see the boys after that, it was like a flash.'
0:53:45 > 0:53:46One, two, three, up!
0:53:46 > 0:53:49'They came up to me to give me a big hug.'
0:53:51 > 0:53:53'And it just hit me, just...doof!
0:53:53 > 0:53:55'I just seen their faces, clear as daylight.'
0:53:58 > 0:54:03Strange. Strange? Yeah. In what way is it strange?
0:54:03 > 0:54:06Cos they don't look like I thought they would.
0:54:06 > 0:54:09Daddy can see his cheeky little imps, eh?
0:54:09 > 0:54:11With biscuits all round them.
0:54:12 > 0:54:14And his little nose there.
0:54:16 > 0:54:18Cheeky smiles, they've got.
0:54:19 > 0:54:20Small noses.
0:54:22 > 0:54:25They definitely don't take after me for that.
0:54:25 > 0:54:27That's nice - did you do that picture?
0:54:28 > 0:54:30Did you draw that? Yes.
0:54:30 > 0:54:33Right now, I could be on top of the world.
0:54:34 > 0:54:35One.
0:54:35 > 0:54:37Green and white.
0:54:37 > 0:54:38Three.
0:54:38 > 0:54:41Can you point out the H? There.
0:54:41 > 0:54:43A yellow taxi.
0:54:43 > 0:54:47Can you point out the H? There.
0:54:47 > 0:54:49Red balloon.
0:54:49 > 0:54:50"Wild Thing."
0:54:50 > 0:54:52I always thought I was.
0:54:52 > 0:54:56I can see shades of the old Ian coming back.
0:54:56 > 0:54:59Can you see the clock? Yeah.
0:54:59 > 0:55:05It is...at 24 minutes past five, I think.
0:55:05 > 0:55:07Four, sorry, not five.
0:55:07 > 0:55:0824 minutes past four.
0:55:14 > 0:55:17How does the future look to you? Bright.
0:55:17 > 0:55:19SHE LAUGHS
0:55:19 > 0:55:23Um...the future's great.
0:55:23 > 0:55:25Why not? Why not?
0:55:25 > 0:55:30I, er...I don't look too far ahead, really.
0:55:30 > 0:55:36I don't think, "Oh, what can I hope for?" much...
0:55:36 > 0:55:40Not much. Just to see - as long as I can see, I don't care.
0:55:40 > 0:55:44I don't care if I was in a wheelchair, or whatever,
0:55:44 > 0:55:46as long as I can see.
0:55:47 > 0:55:54Two years ago, I found out that I'd got an infection in the retina,
0:55:54 > 0:56:00which is one of the most important pieces in the eye
0:56:00 > 0:56:02for getting images.
0:56:04 > 0:56:05How's your sight now?
0:56:06 > 0:56:08Not very good, actually.
0:56:09 > 0:56:12Do you fear you may lose your sight again?
0:56:12 > 0:56:16All the time. All the time - never, ever goes away.
0:56:16 > 0:56:18It...
0:56:19 > 0:56:23You just...wouldn't do anything, if you kept thinking like that.
0:56:23 > 0:56:25You'd drive yourself crazy.
0:56:25 > 0:56:28I got it back for five years -
0:56:28 > 0:56:31even if it would've only have been five days,
0:56:31 > 0:56:35then I wouldn't have swapped that for anything.
0:56:42 > 0:56:44Douglas Bear!
0:56:44 > 0:56:47Come on, sit here - let Daddy read it to you properly.
0:56:47 > 0:56:48You can hold that...
0:56:50 > 0:56:52The story of Hugless Douglas...
0:56:54 > 0:56:58Up till now, have you ever managed to read to your sons?
0:56:58 > 0:57:00No. Not properly, no.
0:57:02 > 0:57:04"One spring morning,
0:57:04 > 0:57:08"a big yaaawwwwn
0:57:08 > 0:57:13"came from the back of a deep, dark cave.
0:57:13 > 0:57:18"It was a young..." Bear. "..brown bear and his name was..."
0:57:18 > 0:57:22Hugless Douglas. "..Douglas." Douglas. Yeah!
0:57:24 > 0:57:28"'I need a hug', said Douglas.
0:57:28 > 0:57:34"So he wriggled out of his pyjamas, he brushed his hair,
0:57:34 > 0:57:39"and put on a scarf and went out to look for one."
0:57:39 > 0:57:41Definitely a miracle.
0:57:41 > 0:57:48"Poor Douglas. 'Why can't I find a hug?', he cried."
0:57:48 > 0:57:50Such an extraordinary thing to see.
0:57:51 > 0:57:53To think a tooth could do this.
0:57:55 > 0:58:00"'Ooh!' grunted Douglas. 'It's a bit too heavy.'"
0:58:00 > 0:58:02He was having his din-dins, look.
0:58:02 > 0:58:06Nothing's concrete. It could go tomorrow.
0:58:07 > 0:58:10But I'm just enjoying it day by day.
0:58:10 > 0:58:14"As he went to hug the sheep, like this..." Oooh!
0:58:14 > 0:58:16That's a backward hug.
0:58:16 > 0:58:19'She's been my rock, really, all the way through.'
0:58:21 > 0:58:23She was there before it, she was there during it,
0:58:23 > 0:58:24and she's there after it.
0:58:26 > 0:58:28And I love her for that.
0:58:29 > 0:58:36"He hugged the bottom...he hugged..." The middle.
0:58:37 > 0:58:42"..and then he hugged as far up as he could climb!"
0:58:43 > 0:58:45So what's it like to see again?
0:58:48 > 0:58:49Brilliant.
0:59:12 > 0:59:15Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd