Her Eyes






There is so much we don't know about Avery.  I try not to think about it because it makes me sad.  I don't know who her biological  parents are, where she was born, when she was born, or any of the medical information that goes along with her birth.  She was abandoned.  Sadly this is the reality for many children in China because of the one child policy and because many parents can't afford medical treatment for their children they just abandon them; however, because it is illegal to abandon your child these children are left in secret with no information in regards to their birth.  When we got Avery she came to us with an eye condition called Stabismus or otherwise known as cross-eyed.  This condition can be present at birth or can occur from lack of brain stimulation like being left in a crib for extended periods of time.  The later is probably the case for Avery, but we will never really know.  When we brought her home we took her to an eye doctor who determined that she would need to wear an eye patch for 2 months and then she would need to have her eyes surgically repaired.  Yesterday was the day.  We arrived at the clinic at 6:30 a.m. and she was the first patient of the day.  The procedure lasted 45 minutes in which they cut the muscle in the eye and re-align the eyes. Sometimes just one eye is effected, but in her case both eyes needed to be repaired.  Poor thing was so sad when we held her again.  She spent most of yesterday in my arms either sleeping or crying as her eyes were sore.  We will be laying low the next couple of days in order to give her eyes time to heal.  We also have to put eye drops in her eyes 4 times a day.  She hates the drops as they sting, but are necessary in order to prevent infection.  While I know this was the best thing for her and her development, I am going to miss her silly eyes that at times were kind of freaky; especially, when she would turn the left eye all the way in.  I have heard mothers say after having their cleft lip-cleft palate children lips repaired that they mourn the loss of the smile they grew to love and this is the case for me with Avery, and at the same time I am so grateful she has the opportunity to have this repaired.  This would have never been the case in China.  

Comments

I know this has been a hardship on your family, but I can't help but think.. what a blessing your family is to sweet Avery. Not only have you had taken care of her medical treatments, but you have given her an eternal family, and a life to look forward to. Makes me get that warm fuzzy feeling!!
Poor Avery but thankfully she is blessed with such a loving and caring family. I hope she only remembers the days your first held her and forward.
Francesca said…
this little girl was given so many more precious things than having her eye problem fixed when she came to your family! hope she recovers well, though i'm sure that spending these post-op days in your arms is the best medicine.
Francesca said…
this little girl was given so many more precious things than having her eye problem fixed when she came to your family! hope she recovers well, though i'm sure that spending these post-op days in your arms is the best medicine.
Does surgery seem worse on our adopted babies? It seems just as they start to trust us and allow themselves to be loved we thrust them into surgery, which of course we have to do but I know when we did it with Ro it seemed almost cruel.

Hope your little one is feeling better and back to her happy little self ASAP. xx
Leggio said…
Praying Precious Avery is feeling better. Such a good mama. :) You have been very busy. We are adjusting over here in Texas.

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