When Frank May started having trouble with his eyesight in early November, he initially thought he’d wait until his January checkup with his optometrist, Dr. Sanjay Khurana, to investigate the problem.

Frank had purchased his glasses from the optometrist about a year and a half ago, so he thought the prescription was not working and wanted to get it checked. He asked his wife, Cathy, to make an appointment, which she did the next day. They went to see Dr. Khurana, a graduate of SUNY State College of Optometry in New York City, who has worked in Stouffville’s Wal-Mart Plaza for the past two years.

“When Frank came in he told me he was having blurred vision,” said Dr. Khurana. And while changes in vision are a normal part of the aging process, “I was surprised by the way his eyes had changed since his last visit. I took a quick look and I knew that something wasn’t right. The right eye was worse than the left and the changes just didn’t fit with my expectations.”

When he put drops in Frank’s eyes to examine them, he found that papilledema, a swelling of the optic disc, was present in both eyes. “I remembered a case where I saw a little girl who had the same thing and she had a really bad case of meningitis,” he said. “I saw this and I was thinking of that girl. I knew this had to be looked at as quickly as possible.”

Dr. Khurana contacted Frank’s GP, who agreed that he should go to the emergency department at Markham Stouffville Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. He was immediately referred to Mojgan Hodaie, a neurosurgeon at Toronto Western Hospital, who saw him just two days later, on Nov. 6, and arranged to operate on Nov. 10.

For Frank, being in hospital was not exactly a novelty: He was still recovering from hip replacement surgery on Oct. 15, so the prospect of another major operation was daunting, to say the least. But he and Cathy were optimistic. Thanks to Dr. Khurana, the tumour had been discovered and was operable. “And we were going to the University Health Network, where they have the best doctors,” said Frank.

Throughout the Mays’ ordeal, the health care system has been incredible, offering practical and emotional support and being sensitive to all their concerns, Cathy said. “It couldn’t have worked any better.”  As for Dr. Khurana, “He was amazing. He was so calm, but he made sure we were really well taken care of.” He has also been keeping in regular touch to check on Frank’s progress.

As Frank continues to recover at home, Cathy has her work cut out for her just making sure he doesn’t overdo things. His determination, sunny nature and refusal to feel sorry for himself are an inspiration to everyone who knows him. One of his favourite quotes comes from the movie Patch Adams: “You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you’ll win, no matter what the outcome.”

As Frank, Cathy and their family get ready to celebrate Christmas, they will raise a glass to Dr. Sanjay Khurana, whose quick thinking and compassion have turned out to be the most wonderful gift of all.

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