When Grace Redding, a 35-year-old mother of two, suddenly felt severe abdominal pain in the middle of her flight home, she knew something was wrong. Her pain caught the attention of her stewardess. 

“Our food is terrible.” said Southwest employee Kristen Hutchinson. “We see 4-5 cases of severe abdominal pain every day. That’s what happens when you expect fish to be served at 30,000 feet.”

Ms. Hutchinson sprang into action, asking on the plane intercom if there was a doctor on board. Luckily, there was one doctor, comfortably seated in economy plus, who answered the call. He insisted we call him Dr. Eye. 

Dr. Eye was the top graduate of his class at Best Medical School (BMS) and now has a successful clinic at City State College University (CSCU), where he works a staggering 30 hours per week. 

“I hate two things: Friday clinic and body medicine,” explained Dr. Eye. “But when I saw this patient, doubled over in pain, clutching her right lower quadrant, I knew I had to act fast. This was a classic patient case that every physician should recognize.”

He ran to his carry-on bag and pulled out a foldable slit lamp machine. His exam revealed what he had feared the most: an elevated eye pressure and a dislocated lasik flap. 

“It was more serious than I thought,” said Dr. Eye, his own eyes tearing up. “I’ve never operated on a plane before, but I knew I had to take action.”

Dr. Eye whipped out his pocket scalpel and heroically sliced into Ms. Redding’s eye. Clear fluid gushed out and he funneled it into a test tube labeled “Personal”. He then meticulously dissected the previous lasik flap and repositioned it. It was difficult however, as the patient wouldn’t stop complaining about her stomach.

“He was fist pumping after the surgery was over, but the woman looked worse than ever,” recounts Ms. Hutchinson. “He pulled out an eye chart and made her read it.”

As she was about to read the 20/20 line, her eyes started rolling back and she stopped responding. 

“You can do it!” said Dr. Eye. “You’re so close!”

Her face was paper white. The blood was draining from her vital organs (eyes included) and accumulating internally. Gasping for air, she whispered: E-V-O-T-Z. The sacred letters of 20/20. At that moment, the plane touched down for the emergency landing. 

“A body is nothing without sight,” said Dr. Eye, looking quite pleased with himself. “Another patient’s livelihood saved by these hands.” 

Behind him, Ms. Redding was being pulled out of the plane in a stretcher, a team of EMTs running a code as they wheeled her into the ambulance.

“We don’t do it to be heroes. But it sure feels good to win.” said Dr. Eye, whipping his sunglasses off for the third time during this interview. “Now are we done here? I need to finish this week’s Golf Digest.”

Grace Redding was not available for comment as she was recovering from complications of a recent surgery.