Sunday, March 29, 2009

Congenital Cataract

















Those first four months she seemed so normal. She cooed; she smiled. Her big blue eyes made my heart swim.

Then the tear ducts were blocked for weeks until one September day they spontaneously burst and unplugged. A swamp of goo the color of sprouted wheat disappeared from all around Lucy's eyes. I wanted to sing and kiss the morning air. I jogged instead for miles crisp and fresh as an apple. Each wrangled tree branch tightened into focus as I ran and sucked in smoky tangles of fall air.

October, I almost didn't go. The appointment was to examine her plugged ducts. No slime or swampy fluids pooled up around her lakes of eyes any more. Cured I thought.

Somehow though, I went to the appointment anyway. No reason, I just went. And then there it was: the cataract. A smudge the shape of a sail warbled over the tiny lens of her eye. Congenital, there from birth.

We patched it, the good eye that is. They call it ocular seclusion. It forces the brain to strengthen neurons associated with the bad eye.

















So, there we are last October waiting to see if our baby will need eye surgery. It's not the sort of thing you plan for really. You know, wondering if they will give her a plastic implant or just go with contacts on a five month old, well, after ultrasonically shattering her original lens and sucking it out through an itty bitty straw. Eye surgery?!

5 comments:

Goat said...

So many times the end is really the beginning--and still we never see it coming. I love that you forge ahead as if this, THIS is clearly a good path. I'm sure in your head you would not have chosen it voluntarily, but you live as if you could have--had God suggested it. You are giving Lucy and all your children a gift. The gift of knowing God as good in every circumstance.

Daniel and Cerissa said...

We are praying that God will heal her sweet little blue eyes, however that may be. You are such a good Mother -- teaching your children what is truly important in this fading world.

Praying for your safe trip to the doc and back... can't wait to hear the update.

Love ya!

Lori said...

Your previous 2 comments are so perfect and heartfelt - what is left to say? God has blessed Lucy with an amazingly loving family - one who truly believes that He's using this situation for His glory. Can't ask for more!

Are you leaving tomorrow for the next appt?

Ben and Rachelle said...

Talked to Craig at church on Sunday about this next appointment. Hope all is going well.

clam_jam said...

What did you decide to do? I was born with congenital cataracts in both eyes. Now 28, I still have them. I am a color designer and can pass the Munsell color test 100%. More and more homeopathic methods are coming out to cure cataracts. If you have yet to have the surgery, please wait, she indeed may never need surgery.