Pastor Rick Warren reportedly blinded by firestick plant

Saddleback Church pastor Rick Warren reportedly suffered an injury due to a “firestick plant” while gardening, according to tweets he sent to his followers requesting prayers.

Warren was said to be in such pain from the firestick plant attack that he was initially unable to convey the details of his injuries to his wife:

“Apparently some of the milky poisonous sap from the plants had penetrated his gloves and made contact with his hands,” said Saddleback spokeswoman Kristin Cole. “He wiped over his eyes.”

Warren tweeted initially:

My eyes were severely burned by a toxic poison.Hospitalized Mon.Excruciating pain.Now home.Pray my sight loss is restored

This apparently alarmed some of his followers, because he added:

A doctor put protective contacts on my corneas as bandages during the healing. I am NOT blind. Thank you.

The Saddleback Church spokeswoman clarified Warren’s condition, but says the firestick plant related injury is not expected to be permanent:

“It did do some damage to the cornea, kind of like a chemical burn,” Cole said. “But the cornea can repair itself.”

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