Another Surgery

At Shelley's ophthalmologist appointment today, Dr. Nyong'0 told us that she definitely needs to get the right cataract removed because it has gotten worse. I'm glad he told us this was a possibility from the beginning because it made it easier to take in this time. Two weeks ago he told us that there was a 90% chance Shelley would have to get it removed but he wanted to check today to make sure it was continuing to worsen before he did surgery. So, a week from today, Wednesday, at 7:30am Shelley goes in for her second surgery. It really is amazing what they can do these days to prevent blindness and other things that years ago would go undetected until it was too late to fix.

Shelley's left eye, the one she had her first cataract surgery on, is doing phenomenally! She can see so well and she passes all of her eye tests wonderfully! Her right eye now sees worse than her left eye. And that is the reason Dr. Nyong'o is worried. Her brain is most likely devoting more and more attention to the left eye because it sees so well and if the right eye keeps getting worse, then the brain could shut off most all visual stimulation in that eye. After the surgery, we will be patching quite a bit to even out her eye sight so equal time is devoted to both eyes.

Also, I thought taking in and out the contact would get easier with time but it is proving to be quite the opposite! The first few times were surprisingly easy and I was so grateful for that! However, last week and this week were so much harder! Last week it took us an hour and a half to get in her contact!! Poor girl! She just wanted nothing to do with it...well, she wanted nothing to do with her mom and dad opening her eye wide enough to slip the contact in. It was a rough morning, to say the least! I took it out tonight and it was still a struggle, but she did OK. I am hoping tomorrow morning goes better with putting it back in. She moves much more freely now and so I think that is part of what's changing. I don't even want to think about what putting two contacts in each week will be like. We will get this down soon though:)

Please keep Shelley in your prayers. I hope and pray everything goes as smoothly as the last surgery. I read a wonderful talk yesterday that definitely helped prepare me for Shelley's surgery news today. Susan W. Tanner talks about delighting in the things of the Lord and the quote I loved talks about the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac:

"I delight in the examples of those in the scriptures who walk by faith on their earthly journey. Each time I walk with Abraham and Isaac on the road to Mount Moriah, I weep, knowing that Abraham does not know that there will be an angel and a ram in the thicket at the end of the journey. We are each in the middle of our earthly path, and we don’t know the rest of our own stories. But we, as Abraham, are blessed with miracles."

We have definitely seen miracles already through this trial. And this trial pales by comparison with what others have on their plate. Shelley is such a special little girl and a blessing to our family!

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We took a few pictures tonight at a little GSB trick or treating event. Since I haven't been out to find a patch for her pirate costume, Shelley went as a biker chick tonight. I think she looks quite adorable in her bandanna. Maybe I should make it part of her daily attire? I can't wait for her to be a pirate and Jorgen to be her parrot! Thanks, Rachel, for sending the parrot costume!

I love my family!