Pre-Op

Yesterday we met with Leyla's ophthalmologist/ surgeon, Dr. DeBecker.  She explained to us how the procedure will go on Wednesday. 

Rather than weakening the inside muscles on Leyla's eyes, they will now be peeling the muscles from the top and bottom of her eyes and moving them to the outsides of the eyes.  They will then do a couple of Botox injections on the inside muscles, to relax them a bit while she heals.  It should take about 8 weeks after the surgery to see whether the surgery was fully successful or not.  There is a chance that she may need another surgery to weaken the inside muscles afterward but, we're hoping that isn't an issue!

Today we saw Dr. Rosenthal (Leyla's Pediatrician) for her Pre-Op physical, got the sign off!  We're good to go!  In about 3 1/2 hours we'll be on our way to the Worlds Largest Buffalo!  Does it get any better than that?!

Have a great weekend!

Jenni

Mixed Feelings

T minus 6 days and counting until Leyla's eye surgery!  Yikes!  I have an overwhelming amount of mixed feelings happening about this surgery.  Obviously, as any mom would be, I'm scared to death about it!  I mean, I fully trust her doctors and I fully trust that the Lord will keep her safe and healthy during the procedures but, come on, they're operating on her eyes for goodness sake!  I have so many fears and what-ifs, what if it doesn't work, what if it makes her eyes worse, what if it makes her blind, I fear the pain that she'll be in afterward, I fear that she'll associate us to the pain that she feels, I fear having to put her through all of it again if it doesn't work...I could go on for days! 

On the other hand, though, I'm excited!  The hope is that Leyla's range of sight will increase from the surgery which in turn will (hopefully) help her to want to reach out for things that are off to her sides and eventually roll over!  There's also the obvious apperance part of it, we hope that Leyla's eyes will no longer be crossed and that she'll be able to pull her eyes to the outside rather than only being able to look with one eye or turn her head to see things that are off to the side of her. 

Other than the surgery, Leyla will have a couple other procedures done next Wednesday, the electroretinogram (ERG), another MRI and she'll have blood taken for the genetic testing.  I'm anxious to see the results of the ERG as that should give us some information as to what Leyla's eyes will do in the future.  She may be able to see really well right now but, will her retinas still have the same functionality 5 or even 10 years from now? 

We're meeting Dr. DeBecker today for Leyla's Pre-Op eye measurements and Dr. Rosenthal (Leyla's Peditrician) tomorrow for her Pre-Op physical then our little lady gets a few days to relax with her Grandma Dawn & Grandpa Jerry, her cousins Brayden & Carley (pictured below), aunties & uncles....AND She'll get to meet the Worlds Largest Buffalo all before heading back for physical therapy on Tuesday and the surgery on Wednesday!

Have a safe holiday weekend!

Jenni

**Note about the giveaways; you must leave a comment for each entry or you'll only be entered for the one that you leave.**