Appointment With Dr.Zaidman 7/27/09

Emily had a doctors appointment this past Monday with Dr. Zaidman. I was nervous about it because after her allergic reaction to the new eye drops I wasn't sure what he was going to say or do. After briefly meeting with a resident doctor and going over her medications and the specifics of the reaction she had, we were moved into the back waiting area. Once Dr. Zaidman called us into an exam room he brought another resident doctor in with him. She had never seen Emily before and he was telling her about her latest surgery and how he hopes to do a partial transplant on her right eye to replace a few layers of the cornea where scar tissue has formed.

She is now 7.5 weeks post-op and after examining her, he told me that the cornea looks very good and the lens implant is still in a good position. We talked about her reaction to the new medicine and he said that if Dr. Kane really felt it was necessary for her to have the surgery to implant the second tube, then he would have to go with what he felt was best. But he was hoping to try one more medication before resorting to the surgery...(the Pilocarpine that she is now on).

The resident was curious about how well she could see, and at this point Emily had already gotten down off my lap and was walking around the room. What Dr. Z said next hit me like a ton of bricks..."well obviously she is seeing, and she is doing remarkably well considering what she has been through". My heart just about jumped out of my chest! For him to say that really made me feel as though he was truly impressed with how well she is doing and how far she has come. If he thinks she's doing "remarkably well"...that's music to my ears. Despite the cornea rejecting and the constant battle with Glaucoma, she is still prevailing..she is a fighter for sure! I will never give up on her and I know she will never give up on herself. For a 21 month old little girl, she sure has more strength than any adult I know...

She has become a little bit "sassy" over the last couple of weeks, since she learned how to say NO! She had already (on her own) learned how to cross her arms when she is mad or upset and that combined with 'NO' is just setting the stage for her to tell everyone exactly how it is! She will not settle...she will not back down...she will fight for what she wants until she gets it. She WILL be able to see, she WILL do everything a child with 'normal' vision can do...she will prove everyone wrong...and in the process teach us as adults a very valuable lesson in courage.

I love you baby girl....you are such an inspiration!