Tiny Patient

My nephew Tyler was born with a congential cataract in his right eye. It was removed when he was only one month old by Dr. M. Edward Wilson, Jr., MD, at the Storm Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston South Carolina. The initial surgery was successful at removing the cataract, but Tyler has had persistent issues with the regulation of the intraocular pressure in his eye, resulting in glaucoma. Today, Tyler had surgery to relieve the pressure--the surgery was performed by Mohamad Jaafar--a pediatric opthalmalogist at National Children's Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Again, the surgery went well, but it's far too early to tell whether it was successful. Thankfully, both surgeries were performed out-patient. Thank goodness there are specialists that deal with these very specialized areas of medicine!

My trip to D.C. was planned before the surgery was planned and/or scheduled. But, as luck would have it, I arrived in D.C. at 5 a.m. this morning, and the surgery was performed shortly after 9:30 a.m.; so, I was able to be at the hospital with Eric & Sheree for pre-op and during the operation. Tyler was a trouper! He didn't get to eat after 5:30 this morning, but he didn't cry and was happy even when he was handed over to the anesthesiologist and carried to the operation room. This afternoon and evening, he's been sleepy as the anthesthesia has worn off. He's also clarly been uncomfortable--and does not like us very much when he won't let him rub his patched eye. But, he's really taken this all quite well...esp. for being only 4 months old!

We've had a lot of fun today during the times when he was awake and feeling well. He's really developed a great laugh!

Here are some photos of the tiny patient in his tiny operation gown...

Look how tiny that blood pressure cuff is...

Getting ready to come home after the surgery...