Still -13*

Some people say I am too sensitive. I might be. I know having a kiddo with issues has made me a whole lot more sensitive to a whole lot of different things.

I think it's a good thing.

If not used properly I suppose being sensitive could keep me from putting on my big girl pants and facing the world. Or it could have me getting defensive at every little thing thinking that somehow things are personal.

This past week Liam had his yearly eye exam at Duke. I'm not sure the position/title of the first person we see when we go but we always see someone in training who does some tests and records it all in his chart. This time the lady put up a large Minnie Mouse toy that spun around and lit up. She moved it left, right, up and down seeing if Liam would track it. He did it all but the going up. He doesn't visually move his eyes up.

Then she asked me if he would reach out and touch Minnie.  I told her that yes he would, but that I would have to tell him to do it (he just doesn't do it on his own because of how much work it takes).

She then put Minnie in front of him and I asked him to touch Minnie. As he started to move his arms she put Minnie back on the counter and started to write in his chart. For about a half a second I was flabbergasted and then went into advocate mode. I told her that he has CP and you have to give him time. He can't just reach out and grab something the moment we ask. He has to think about it, then think about what arm to use, how far he needs to reach, and then he has to think about activating the right muscles. It's a complex process for him and you have to give him time! 

I took Minnie off the counter and put it back in front of Liam who was still trying to bring his arms into place. He looked at Minnie and smiled and slowly got his hand onto her as the lady exclaims, "Oh, look at him go for it!".

Arghhhhhh.

After that she said they had to dilate his eyes.

And then she asked me, "Should I just put the drops in his eyes or do you want me to tell him what I am doing?"

Seriously? You have to ask me that?

I. was. perturbed.

Of course you tell him what you are doing!! He is a human being! He can hear. He can see. And he can certainly feel your hand prying his eye lids apart. Why on earth wouldn't you tell him what you are going to do to him??

I told her so with out so many exclamation marks.

This is a pediatric ophthalmology department. You assume that all patients understand what you are doing and saying and you treat every patient the same: with respect, kindness and patience...just like you would want to be treated.

If she didn't know that before. I hope she understands that now.


*That is Liam's needed correction for his near sightedness. It's unchanged from last year.

Liam's right eye has been turning in since last October. His ophthalmologist said she thought it was a good thing because he was probably trying to focus and understand what he is seeing since he has "cortical visual impairment". There had been a discussion on the preemie group I am a part of about patching lazy eyes and it got me to thinking about Liam and whether he should be patched for his eye. We don't have an appointment at Duke with the ophthalmologist until June and I didn't want to wait that long so I made an appointment with a local optometrist.

I am SO thankful I made that appointment. At our last eye exam I was told that Liam was only slightly near sighted (-2). Dr. Doty told me today that Liam is VERY near sighted (-12) and that he can't see anything clearly beyond his nose! Poor baby! No wonder he lost interest in his books. He can't see them clearly!

She explained what Liam's eyes are doing. He actually turns both in (which I didn't even know) and she explained that he is only focusing one eye at a time. By only focusing one eye at a time he is over focusing and losing the focus of the opposite eye. He has the diagnosis of Esotropia and not the amblyopia which is what I was afraid he had.

You can see in these pictures not only his dilated eyes from the exam but how his left eye is turned in.




These two photos show his right eye going in.


Liam did very well for the eye exam. Dr. Doty took approximately two seconds to say he was very near sighted. I couldn't believe how quick it was. The dilation part went great. She said he was the first patient of the day who didn't cry when the drops went in (such an easy goin' boy). But, hoooo boy, did he throw a fit when she tried to see in once they were dilated! He sure showed her how mad he was though...by throwing up his peas.

We fit Liam for his glasses today. Everyone oohed and aahed over him and said he looked so cute in them. They put a rush on them so hopefully we will have them within the next week.
I am not sad to see Liam get them. I am thrilled that we can still correct his issues with vision and that he now will have a chance to see beyond his nose. 90% of what a child learns in their first year of life comes from vision and if we can increase his percentage by the slightest bit we have given him an advantage. Besides, glasses are just the window dressings.

And if that wasn't exciting enough today, my Dad's dog was attacked by a neighbors dog and we had to take him to the vet. He had a good size tear in his side. The muscle got pulled away. He's in a lot of pain. They will be putting a drain in tomorrow and he is on pain meds and antibiotics. He can't walk well due to the muscles and my dad's room is upstairs and picking him up isn't an option. He just hides in the corner down here. The poor guy won't even move right now at all.