All good news for Galiardi
Quick turnaround after eye injury
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/09/2014 (4383 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
T.J. Galiardi had his career flash before his eyes — both literally and figuratively — last week after taking a stick to the eye and then needing laser surgery.
But now the news is all good for the veteran NHLer, who is trying to land a regular gig with the Winnipeg Jets.
Galiardi was clipped during practice last Friday and immediately left the ice with a nasty gash. A day later he was having it repaired by a specialist after suffering a cut on the eyeball, a torn sphincter (yes, the eyeball also has a sphincter) in the same area and a torn retina.
“I was pretty scared right away,” said Galiardi Monday, prior to the Jets leaving for Edmonton for their fourth of seven pre-season games. “I’ve never had anything with my eye. I quickly went and saw our team eye doctor and he sent me to a specialist. And then I had to have laser surgery on my retina.
“I feel good right now, actually, so it’s been a pretty quick turnaround, but I have another appointment with the specialist tomorrow and we’ll see what he says.”
Galiardi, 26, wears a visor, but the stick snuck under the shield. He hopes to be back on the ice soon.
“I think right now we’re taking it day by day,” he said. “Obviously I want to get out there as a soon as I can but that all depends on how the eye is healing.”
The Calgary product scored a goal in his one pre-season game and is in the fight for what appears to be a vacancy on the left side of the third line.
But his initial reaction after the incident was obviously concern for his vision.
“My first thought was hopefully my eye’s OK. I thought I was blind or something,” said Galiardi. “It was pretty painful and I couldn’t open it so it was a scary moment.
“Kind of puts things in to perspective but luckily I’m OK and I can see.”
And the healing has already been quick, although Galiardi is limited in what he can do because pressure on the eye could cause it to bleed again.
“I was just trying to keep it closed,” said Galiardi of the initial incident. “I went in the room and they were able to open it up and it was pretty blurry, but after the surgery, which was pretty painful, I just wanted to keep it closed. Then I took a little nap and woke up and it was pretty much better after that.
“It’s pretty crazy how quickly the body heals. A couple days ago I couldn’t open my eye at all and now I got about 60 per cent open now. I’m just grateful I can see and I’ll be healthy. I’m trying to look at the positives. Get a little more rest and hopefully I’ll be fully recovered and my body will be feeling good by the time I get back on the ice.”
ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca
