Trabecu-whaa??

Henry underwent a procedure called a trabeculectomy yesterday (Warning: the link to the procedure is a YouTube video, not for the squeamish (but definitely for the surgical resident-in-training or amateur nurse, like me!)). It is a corrective glaucoma surgery, which he was diagnosed with about a month ago now. The surgery was incredibly successful and Hank's doing well today. He seems more concerned with the teeth pushing their way into his mouth than the condition of his eye, if you ask me.

So let's back track a touch...

Months ago, when he was truly just a wee one, in the middle of one of Hank's stay's at CHOP, there was much to do about his tearing right eye. It was detemined to be a clogged tear duct and drops were prescribed, several times a day. The tearing would fluctuate between clear and mucousy. I think 'conjunctivitis' might have even been tossed around a couple times, but without too much stink.

Fast forward to our last stay (which was over two months ago!) when Henry received his nissen surgery that helped, and ultimately HALTED, his reflux episodes. It was during that recovery that i noticed a cloudiness in that same right eye. Nothing TOO noticeable, but since i was spending a great deal of time rocking him and gazing into his little baby-blues-turning-browns, I could see it. I asked for an ophthalmology consult on several occasions with little success. When i got wind of being discharged, i took that opportunity to run home for a few days before returning with stuff to make our stay at the RMH comfortable (maybe you'll remember, they wanted us to stick around as a "just in case" since we had a history of returning shortly after getting home!). It was during that absense that ophthalmology dropped by, examined Hank, and diagnosed corneal abrasions from sleeping with his eyes partially open. I never did get to talk to someone, and as i type this, would love to read the write-up from that consult...

So, pun intended, i kept an EYE on the situation and wasn't feeling like it was improving. Neither did Hank's pediatrician here at home, who then referred me to Dr. Morella in Elmira. In the first appointment, he thought 'corneal abrasion' as well, especially since he saw a thin 'line' across his eye, where he thought his lid was resting when open during his sleep. He gave me some drops and ointment and told me to come back in two weeks.

At the two week appt, as soon as he walked in the door, before he even CHECKED Henry again, he said, "ya know... i've been thinking... i have a theory... this whole corneal abrasion thing..." and then got a tonometer used to measure intraocular pressure (IOP). His reading was coming up very high. Anything higher than 20 is noteworthy, and he was pulling up 50s and 60s with Hank. The next step was an appt with another ophthalmologist, this time in Rochester, Dr. Siebold.

After her assessment, coming up with the same high numbers, she scheduled Hank for 'possible but probable' surgery. The idea was to put him under enough to get a very accurate IOP reading (it's hard to do with a squirming disgruntled baby!), and if necessary, right then and there, do surgery. If not necessary, to continue the G-tube meds he had been on for the weeks leading up to this moment.

I hung out with Henry in his little pre-op room, waiting for his turn, adorned in blue paper jumpsuit, booties and shower cap. About 15 minutes after kissing him goodbye and nodding to the anesthesiologists, entrusting them with my lil guy, a nurse came out to the waiting room to inform me that the surgery was indeed needed and he'd be all set in about 2 hours.

Dr. Siebold greeted me in the pediatric recovery ward and explained how the surgery went about as perfect as this kind of surgery can go. Hank had a guard resembling a gigantic fly eye taped to his head and was definitely groggy. But at the same time, he was HUNGRY - he'd gone 12 hours with no eats! So i fired up the feeding pump, let him snooze for a bit, and soon was officially discharged.

In one week, Henry will be readmitted for his first cleft lip repair, called a lip adhesion. This is the bigger of the two surgeries. I'm experiencing a few different emotions, none of which, really, involve anxiety or worry or concern. Mostly a feeling of having my son's looks CHANGE. Wanting him to be comfortable and happy. I completely trust the surgical team for this procedure and I can't wait to see them work their magic on our lovey...