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Blue Springs, MO —
On Monday, my daughter, Kelsey, had her 40th surgery. Actually, I believe she’s had many more and we just lost count.
Born at 25 weeks gestation, with a twin and having multiple lifesaving procedures in the mid ’70s – procedures, which she had while weighing between 1 and 2 pounds – we are beginning to experience a “shelf life” for several of the preemie procedures.
Whew!
I can’t even imagine what neonatologists do today to preserve sight, compared to what they did 35 years. However, there are several things I’d like to share with any parent who had a premature infant with ROP (retinopathy of prematurity).
From the National Eye Institute: “ROP is a disease of the eyes of prematurely born infants in which the retinal blood vessels increase in number and branch excessively, sometimes leading to hemorrhage or scarring. Before the establishment of this study in 1985, more than 500 infants annually were blinded by ROP in the United States alone.”
If there are parents, out there, who have babies who had ROP, be aware and watch for secondary angle closure glaucoma. We were too late, about 8 years ago. Kelsey suffered horribly with high pressures and eventually lost sight in her left eye.
Please pass this along to anyone who has had a baby with ROP. Between the ages of 12 and 45, watch eye pressures, closely. This should never have occurred with Kelsey, since the research and findings were published in 1991. She lost the sight of a beautiful eye.
Moving on, today was another eye condition, a side effect from ROP. We’re home from the hospital with a clear plastic shield over Kelsey’s eye. She is recovering nicely. With Kelsey, we almost always have to do general anesthesia.
Well, I am about out of writing space but this is what is in my heart.
Years ago, hospital staff wore white. Families were most times kept from their babies or children. There was not a lot of hope or encouragement that my twins would be born alive or live very long, if they did survive. I was instructed to prepare for the worst, even while I was still pregnant.
However, today there is hope and happiness, and colorfully dressed nurses, brightly decorated play rooms, and wonderfully creative social workers. There are child life specialists who give support and dream up amazing adaptations to best serve the baby and their family. Aren’t advances in medicine great?
On Monday, my daughter, Kelsey, had her 40th surgery. Actually, I believe she’s had many more and we just lost count.
Born at 25 weeks gestation, with a twin and having multiple lifesaving procedures in the mid ’70s – procedures, which she had while weighing between 1 and 2 pounds – we are beginning to experience a “shelf life” for several of the preemie procedures.
Whew!
I can’t even imagine what neonatologists do today to preserve sight, compared to what they did 35 years. However, there are several things I’d like to share with any parent who had a premature infant with ROP (retinopathy of prematurity).
From the National Eye Institute: “ROP is a disease of the eyes of prematurely born infants in which the retinal blood vessels increase in number and branch excessively, sometimes leading to hemorrhage or scarring. Before the establishment of this study in 1985, more than 500 infants annually were blinded by ROP in the United States alone.”
If there are parents, out there, who have babies who had ROP, be aware and watch for secondary angle closure glaucoma. We were too late, about 8 years ago. Kelsey suffered horribly with high pressures and eventually lost sight in her left eye.
Please pass this along to anyone who has had a baby with ROP. Between the ages of 12 and 45, watch eye pressures, closely. This should never have occurred with Kelsey, since the research and findings were published in 1991. She lost the sight of a beautiful eye.
Moving on, today was another eye condition, a side effect from ROP. We’re home from the hospital with a clear plastic shield over Kelsey’s eye. She is recovering nicely. With Kelsey, we almost always have to do general anesthesia.
Well, I am about out of writing space but this is what is in my heart.
Years ago, hospital staff wore white. Families were most times kept from their babies or children. There was not a lot of hope or encouragement that my twins would be born alive or live very long, if they did survive. I was instructed to prepare for the worst, even while I was still pregnant.
However, today there is hope and happiness, and colorfully dressed nurses, brightly decorated play rooms, and wonderfully creative social workers. There are child life specialists who give support and dream up amazing adaptations to best serve the baby and their family. Aren’t advances in medicine great?
Most of all, I thank the dozens of friends and family members whose prayers, thoughts and well wishes were such an integral part of our healing today. I felt as loved as Kelsey, knowing that friends were praying for me as well as her.
We thank Dr. Charles Lederer, a brilliant, caring physician, who blessed Kelsey (and her family) with another miracle in her life. We thank Dr. Lederer’s wonderful office staff: Mary, Kristin, Vita, Sarah, Sara, Sheryl, Becci and Dr. Murray, at Associated Ophthalmologists of Kansas City. We express our appreciation to Sue and Joann at Research Medical Center, Brookside Campus for Outpatient Eye Surgery. Thank you for your calming, loving influence with a terrified little girl.
Most importantly, I thank our Heavenly Father who brought peace and comfort to my special child and blessed us all.
