Re: Re: slings

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I have bpes also so with Lily I have always explained it that she has small eyes like mommy, and dr. helped to make them bigger so we could see better.

Lily had the epicanthus at 2.5 and doesn't remember it. Right before her 5th bday we saw the surgeon and he said he wanted to schedule the slings.. We talked about it then, how it would help her see better and help her open both eyes to the same degree without having to lift her brows so high. She was scared and asked if it would hurt, and was he going to do it right now. I reassured her no, not right now and that she wouldn't feel anything when he did it.

I didn't say anything to her about it last week, as she has a poor concept of time and would just worry about when it was going to happen. I told her thursday afternoon it would happen the next morning, we planned a fun night so she would be distracted. On thursday am it was very early but we went to the hospital and I told her she would have the eye surgery today. I thought she would fight us hard, to be honest. At 5 she knows what's going on, knows enough to be scared and unfortunately has already been in hospitals.. .. but she was so good and so brave. At children's they are really good with kids, try to ease the stress, she likes the toys in the waiting room and the other kids. She walked right in to the OR and wanted to "blow up the balloon" .

I think it's good to explain simply but not talk about it too much at this age, it's scary and I don't know about your daughter but our little girl will always ask, is it in two days, three days, is it tomorrow, is it next week. She really cannot grasp what "surgery this fri morning really means"

Waking up from anesthesia was not fun., but we got through it.

Epicanthus for Lily was not that eventful, it's easier IMO than the slings, less bruising, etc.

And the increased width in the eyes is so wonderful, helps them see better.

I am happy happy with Lily's results, she is so beautiful anyway but now her eyes look amazing. Glad it's behind us

From: amybrms <amybrms@...>Subject: blepharophimosis Re: slingsblepharophimosis Date: Monday, August 31, 2009, 3:54 PM

Hi Beth:How did you prepare/explain your daughther's surgery to her? I have a 4 year old with BPES. She had her first sling surgery when she was 9 months old. One of the slings has come loose and we are to go see her surgeon on Wednesday. I'm pretty sure that they will schedule the "big" surgery (as I call it) where they do the inner corners of her eyes - epincathus (sp), as they were planning to do that next year anyway. She has started asking questions about her eyes and I'm trying to give her simple explanations - like you were born with small eyes and the drs had to make them bigger, etc. I want to prepare her, but not scare her for what is to come. She is a very bright little girl who catches on very quickly. Just wondering if you had any advice since your daughter is around the same age as mine and you have just been thru this.Amy's momTennessee, USA