Last summer we were on the plane headed to Vegas and I noticed Sprout's eyes were crossing. At the time I thought it was because his hair was in his eyes and that he was just focusing on that. Turns out that wasn't the case at all. Sprout had a condition called Estropia where his eyes move independently from each other. He can still see out of both eyes but one of them tends to get lazy and turn off while the other focuses. This condition can be corrected by wearing glasses (which didn't work in our case), or surgery. The picture above is an extreme instance where his eyes would shift. Most of the time it was hardly noticeable. We debated about we there or not we should even do the surgery, but in the end decided it was probably for the best.
To say I was nervous would be a major understatement. I wasn't so much worried about the outcome, I had a pretty good feeling that everything would be successful, but I was worried about the experience for Sprout, would he be scared, would he be in pain. Would he not understand what or why this was happening and how would that feel for him.
Children's Mercy was incredible. They were great with Sprout, got him some shows and had a goody bag with coloring and a race car. He was really brave and sat with my and snuggled. He wasn't scared or nervous and I was so grateful.
He was so gosh darn cute in his little gown. He didn't like wearing a dress, but he was a rock star about it and giggled when his booty stuck out.
He was also allowed to have a toy and his blanket. Elephant didn't leave his side and he was so excited that he got to come with him.the hardest part for him was taking of his necklace. He cried fro quite awhile when they asked him to take it off and told them that it was his and he needed it back. To be fair he has worn it every day since he was 6 months old, but I was really amazed at how attached to it he was.
It was time to go. He hopped up on his little stretcher, gave me a kiss and our nurse Esther rolled him back on his "magic carpet." I was so worried I felt like I was going to puke. His procedure was over in less than 45 minutes. Dr. Atkinson came in to talk to me and said he wanted to come right away because the nurses said that I was nervous. I was so disappointed because I thought I was hiding it so well. He said said there was very minimal bleeding and said that he was really impressed with how little he bled and that was why the surgery was so fast. He also said that he started breathing on his own again right away.
I got to go back to recovery as he was waking up and the first thing he did was look at me all bleary eyed and said "Mama, where is my necklace?" I told him he was wearing it (the nurses had put it back on right after the procedure) and I put his hand on it and he asked again "but where is it?!" I asked him what his name was and he said "Tired." I asked him if he hurt at all and said "I want it out" I ask hims what out and he raised his hand with his IV.. The nurse said we could snuggle and so I picked him up in his blanket and rocked him for while while his grogginess wore off. He said that he couldn't see and I told him that was okay, then he said that everything was blurry and I told him I would ask about it. They told me it was from the anesthetist and the ointment that they put in his eyes. He asked for his friend so I grabbed Elephant and he said "No, not that, my friend Brigham." It was so dang cute.
He ate some goldfish and drank a ton of juice and then had a burp that was big enough the nurse came in to see if he puked. He was pretty wobbly when he stood to get dressed. He got wheeled out to the car in a little wagon and the nurse gave him a choice of a stuffed bear or a stuffed elephant. He looked at her suspiciously and said "No I'll keep my elephant." I told him that he got to have a new friend for Elephant and he said "Okay, I'll take the elephant." And put him in the wagon suspiciously. We got in the car and I asked him what he wanted to eat. He hesitated a looooooooooooooong time then he said "PIZZA!"
He was pretty snuggly when he got home, but was acting like his usual self. The red was spreading in his eyes but he wasn't complaining, just said they were itchy.
By bed time he was running jumping and acting completely normal. I kept up on his pain meds for a day or two and then he was completely fine. You wouldn't have even known he had a surgery if he didn't have red "Baymax Eyes" (as we called them). He slept through the night fine until 5:30 a.m. when he came downstairs upset. We asked him if his eyes hurt and he started to cry because his band-aid had fallen off where they took out his IV and he wanted another one.
To say I'm relieved would be an major understatement. Oh my heart. I'm so proud of this boy and am so thankful that everything went smoothly and he wasn't in pain.
I asked him a few days later about going to the hospital and he said "There wasn't anything scary Mama." I am so thankful for the nurses and the staff that work so hard to make kiddos feel safe and loved. I am so thankful for the prayers that people had offered up to our Father in Heaven in our behalf, While I was sitting i that waiting room I could feel them.
Oh Sprout, you are so loved!
