I haven't written to you in quite a while so this is long overdue. Tonight I want to share a little about your 5th eye surgery, which you had yesterday. This procedure was a Vitrectomy with removal of internal limiting membrane on your retina, which was clouding your vision. You were a little nervous. You knew surgery meant your doctor was going to work on your eye while you were asleep (but we didn't go into detail further than that because we didn't want to scare you). You woke up before 4:30am yesterday morning in anticipation. Dad gave you a beautiful Priesthood Blessing. He blessed you to with happiness, hope and love to others and to learn inspiration and happiness from your experiences and to share those with others. He blessed you to have the Holy Ghost to be with you to bring you comfort and told you that your mom and dad never stop thinking about you and your welfare.
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| You and Dad hugging after the blessing. |
Here are some posts I shared on social media to keep our family and friends up to date about your surgery.
Today is another surgery for this beautiful girl. We are sitting in the same waiting room where we sat while we waited during her first surgery. But that day, when she was only two months old, I couldn't stop the tears from flowing at the thought of my baby girl in the operating room. I paced the halls most of the time. We have done this several times now and I am more at peace about it but this is the first time she really remembers doing this and she was pretty nervous. And hungry. She got up before 4:30 this morning in anticipation. Wendel gave her a beautiful Priesthood Blessing this morning. She has experienced several difficult things in her four years and she is definitely a fighter. We're looking forward to lunch + ice cream with her when she's done (per her request). #wecandohardthings #eleanorkate @ Phoenix Children's Hospital
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| I snapped this picture very quickly, right before they wheeled you off to surgery. You were pretty nervous here. |
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An update on Eleanor: surgery went well. Her doctor said it was a difficult surgery but things went smoothly. Waking up from the anesthesia was not a smooth transition. She screamed, cried and tried to rip her patch off for about 45 minutes. Wendel and I had to sit on her bed and hold her hands down so she wouldn't rip off the patch and damage her eye (it itched a lot from the anesthesia) and hold her legs down so she wouldn't rip out her IV. The nurse eventually put Eleanor's arms in a restraint to keep her from hurting herself. It was hard to see her in so much pain and distress. I took these pictures on our way home, sitting next to her in the back seat. She is awake now and doing so much better. The itching is gone and she is calm and happy. It's been a long day but it's another surgery behind us. We're grateful for the amazing medical professionals at Phoenix Children's and for amazing friends who reached out to us in prayer, uplifting messages and service. ♥️#wecandohardthings #eleanorkate
Look who is feeling quite a bit better today! She has decided she isn't a fan of surgery but she's doing so much better. We went to her follow up appointment this morning. Her eye pressure is good and she doesn't have inflammation. After her appointment, we got some Jamba Juice and then saw this cute wall across the street. I thought checking it out might cheer her up. I can tell she still doesn't feel the best in these pictures but she's smiling and her eye is feeling so much better. Her doctor gave clearance to have her patch off during the day for the most part and only keep it protected at night. You wouldn't even know she had surgery by looking at these pictures unless you looked inside of her eye. I had tears in my eyes as Wendel and I tucked her in tonight. Eleanor is such a blessing in our family. I'm so grateful for her and the many things I get to learn as her mom. There's a special closeness to heaven when you are blessed with a child who has special needs. It is a sacred journey. ♥️#wecandohardthings #eleanorkate
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| I didn't share this picture on social media but will share it here. You hated these things on your arms that kept them straight so you couldn't touch your eye. You were so miserable on the first part of the ride home but then fell asleep next to me. |
Look who is feeling quite a bit better today! She has decided she isn't a fan of surgery but she's doing so much better. We went to her follow up appointment this morning. Her eye pressure is good and she doesn't have inflammation. After her appointment, we got some Jamba Juice and then saw this cute wall across the street. I thought checking it out might cheer her up. I can tell she still doesn't feel the best in these pictures but she's smiling and her eye is feeling so much better. Her doctor gave clearance to have her patch off during the day for the most part and only keep it protected at night. You wouldn't even know she had surgery by looking at these pictures unless you looked inside of her eye. I had tears in my eyes as Wendel and I tucked her in tonight. Eleanor is such a blessing in our family. I'm so grateful for her and the many things I get to learn as her mom. There's a special closeness to heaven when you are blessed with a child who has special needs. It is a sacred journey. ♥️#wecandohardthings #eleanorkate
Look who is feeling quite a bit better today! She has decided she isn't a fan of surgery but she's doing so much better. We went to her follow up appointment this morning. Her eye pressure is good and she doesn't have inflammation. After her appointment, we got some Jamba Juice and then saw this cute wall across the street. I thought checking it out might cheer her up. I can tell she still doesn't feel the best in these pictures but she's smiling and her eye is feeling so much better. Her doctor gave clearance to have her patch off during the day for the most part and only keep it protected at night. You wouldn't even know she had surgery by looking at these pictures unless you looked inside of her eye. I had tears in my eyes as Wendel and I tucked her in tonight. Eleanor is such a blessing in our family. I'm so grateful for her and the many things I get to learn as her mom. There's a special closeness to heaven when you are blessed with a child who has special needs. It is a sacred journey. ♥️ #wecandohardthings#eleanorkate
