Andrew's vision update

Andrew went back today for a check-up with Dr. Mazow. Mommy did not make the appointment as the car ride is just too long and causes the swelling to worsen. So, the boys (Daddy and Andrew) were on their own today. The appointment went well Andrew was at a strong 20/40 (yipee!) and was even able to start seeing partial letters on the 20/30 line. Dr. Mazow was encouraged and has us keep up the patching regiment of 8+ hours a day for another 6wks. Andrew is still not able to see any of the 3D stuff, but hopefully as his vision in the left eye more closely matches his right eye he may have an opportunity to recover his stereo vision. His right eye is holding at a strong 20/25 so we are getting close. Hurray for Andrew....it is hard work doing the patch therapy, but he continues to have a great attitude and never complains about wearing them.

We are so thankful that we continue to see progress. Please continue to pray for Andrew and for us as we seek the best for his vision. We continually ask for the grace to accept whatever the outcome the Lord has for Andrew and to encourage Andrew to trust the Lord as well. Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement we are so thankful for you.

Post-Surgery-Removing the Bandage

Andrew slept for quite a while...almost 3pm.
We woke him up to try and eat a little, remove
his bandage and give him his first round of eye
drops since surgery. Here he is sitting up and
drinking some water and eating some crackers...
he was really thirsty as you can imagine.

He told us he felt a little queasy walking around. We set
him back up in our bed to remove his bandages and see
his eye for the first time.

Lots of tape to remove carefully.

The hardest part removing the last part.

Andrew was such a trooper though. His eye

looked fantastic. We had been prepared

for bruising especially since he is so fair skinned,

but not a single bruise. His eye was really not

even as swollen as we would have thought. Praise

the Lord. Andrew was not in pain he could feel

the stitches, but that was all.

Some light sensitivity, but very normal.

Wow! truly amazing. His eye is straight and they are tracking

together nicely already.

Here is Andrew sporting his new hat that was the packaging from PawPaw and Grandmommie's gift...homemade play dough. What a thoughtful gift, thank you! Andrew was so excited to get a package and he said, "Grandmommie even made it in my favorite color, yellow"

He is also eating his requested V-8 blueberry pomegranate homemade Popsicle. He is keeping

everything down despite feeling a little queasy. I gave him some peppermint water to help with

the nausea some. We have also had him keep an ice cold rag soaked in Ledum (essential oil, anti-inflammatory) water. His swelling has reduced significantly. He is seeing double vision which contributes to the nausea and dizziness, but that is to be expected for the first few days. In fact we believe this to be a good sign that his brain is recognizing the eye in its new position. Dr. Mazow said it should clear up in a few days.

Kathlena has been checking in on Andrew as he has been sleeping on and off today. She told me she just wanted to watch Andrew sleep that she knew he couldn't play yet. Such a sweet little sister. She has been very concerned about Andrew and his surgery. She keeps telling Andrew that she is having her surgery tomorrow or Monday. Because what ever Andrew does Kathlena wants to do also. Even after Andrew explained all that he remembered today she was still ready for her "surgery". Perhaps a good thing that she is so ready as she may very well one day have the same surgery...only time will tell. If she does need it, we couldn't be more pleased with Dr. Mazow and count it a privilege to have him do the surgery.

Well it has been an exciting day and Mommy is quite tired. Even though I snuck in a nap with Andrew too. The boys are sleeping in the guest room tonight in case Andrew needs to get up or Mommy needs to get up and check on him. I thought the airplane bed was just to much for Andrew and Mommy to navigate in the dark and a fall for either of us would not be good.

Andrew's Eye Surgery

Andrew's surgery went very well and quite quickly. Here we are in the lobby filling out the last of the paperwork to get checked in. We made it downtown in record time...just over 50mins with no traffic so, we were early and that was a good feeling.




Here Andrew is opening his toy the nurses gave him to play with
to pass the time. He also received a star over his left eye to make
sure they worked on the correct eye.

Andrew and Daddy setting up his aquatic figures. Andrew was a little
nervous and the fish were a great distraction and way to pass the time.

We opted for the "goofy" juice that helped Andrew to relax.
He was a little concerned about us leaving him while he was in surgery.
Within about 15-20 he was giggly and very tired. We were right at the
entrance to the O.R. so Andrew got to see lots of people young and old
be taken to surgery before he went in. I think this helped him too, to
see what would happen when it was his turn. When it was his turn he
went without a peep or reservation...he was ready.

After a little over an hour we were called back to talk to Dr.
Mazow and he was quite pleased with the surgery and said
Andrew was doing great. We were then sent down to see
Andrew in recovery. He was still asleep when we first saw him. It
wasn't too long before we were able to get him to stir as I
whispered "what ice cream are you ready to go get?" The
anesthesiologist told us it might take longer for him to wake
up since he had the "goofy" juice. He woke up fairly quickly,
but a little groggy as you can see below.

He was soon ready to drink some apple juice and wanted to play
with his mask they let him keep. He did end up with some
bandages for the ride home to keep dirt out. We will take them
off once we are home and he is settled. He also kept telling us
that " I didn't feel or hear anything" Just as we had hoped he
will likely not remember much of this.

We had a wonderful recovery nurse, Teresa,
who helped us get going quickly. She packed us
with snacks and drinks for all of us as she knew
we had a long drive home. She was a real blessing
and pictured below pushing Andrew to the car
in a wheel chair which he was really excited
to ride in.



Andrew slept the whole way home and didn't have any trouble with nausea...PTL! That was an answered prayer as getting sick was a big concern with a long trip. As soon as we were home sisters and brothers greeted him, but he was really tired so he went straight to bed and is still sleeping now. I will update when he wakes up. We haven't removed the bandages yet since he was so tired we thought best for him to sleep with it on to not rub his eye in his sleep.

Thank you sweet friends and family for your prayers, calls, emails, and txt msgs of encouragement we are very blessed and grateful to the Lord for all that He has done today.

Andrew's Surgery Update

Andrew will have his surgery around 8am tomorrow. We will be arriving for pre-op around 7am which means we will be heading out from the house around 5:30am. Andrew's surgery should be about 45mins-1 hour with an additional hour in recovery.

It all seems relatively simple until I factor in that this is my child which makes it anything, but simple to Mommy. With much prayer I am in a good place knowing that despite the complexity and number of people involved in making this surgery happen who will only know us by a pre-op number; I know that ultimately Andrew is in the most capable hands...the Lord's. We pray for precision and wisdom for Dr. Mazow whom we are very confident is exactly the surgeon Andrew needed.

Andrew is so ready for this surgery. He was telling us at dinner last night that he cannot wait to be able to see better and be able to read. Now, we had to explain to him that we will still be working on his reading as that is learned not acquired through surgery. But, I do have to wonder if in some way he is correct and that he will be reading soon with his corrected vision. By sound and large letters he is sounding out and "reading" simple words. The phonics part makes absolute sense to him and he is so auditory that he hears the distinct sounds and can say them (well most, blends are still a challenge) . I cannot at this moment imagine how much this will change him and the continued phenomenal growth we will see in his life.

Andrew will be the second patient in line tomorrow. Join us as we pray for a safe ride to and from Gramercy Outpatient Clinic, no complications with anestesia and surgery itself. We are so thankful that the Lord hears our feeble prayers and for His great love and mercy towards Andrew.

"As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect." Psalm 18:30-32