surgery for my 4 month old

December 8, 2004

Hi

Just wanted to let everyone know what is going on with us and if

anyone has any experience/advice to offer.

Lily had slings put in at 6 weeks old, because she couldn't open her

eyes at all. The right eye fell out, literally, the piece of silicone

was stuck to her little face one night when I got her up to feed her.

The surgeon did it over again 2 weeks later. This was a big mistake

because she was so swollen that it didn't work the second time and

all that happened was she got infections in both of her eyes. We

found another surgeon, he gave her antibiotics and a better type of

ointment. Her eyes healed and she does have limited vision in both

eyes, but not acceptable to us or her doctors, the right eye is very

hard for her to open still.

Dr. Gavaris (ocular plastic surgeon) will remove all of the slings

and material under anesthesia next week, then give her time to heal

and also a good round of antibiotics, then sometime in January redo

the slings in both eyes. I was so hopeful the first time she had this

surgery, now I really don't know what to expect. As she is

developing, I can see that she really will need the area on each side

of her nose opened up, because you cannot see any white there at all.

I had this surgery done when I was ten months old, Dr. Gavaris wants

to wait until Lily is 3 or 4.

I trust this doctor and he has had success with other children, but I

am so frightened and discouraged at what lies ahead. I am also a

working mom and I feel so awful about leaving her. We will take time

off for the surgeries but still at some point she will go to the

sitter with her eyes still red and puffy from the surgery.

Beth

Recommended Posts