you just never know how life will change. About a month ago, the five of us were all discussing what we'd like to do with the weekend upon us. Katia piped, well, I know what I HAVE to do today, I need to go the eye doctor and get me some glasses because everything is blurry. We laughed and explained that you don't just go to the eye doctor, but we'd have to make an appointment on Monday- a month later that appointment was- last Friday.
We arrived, Katia a little excited, she had decided that she wanted glasses like her dad, small rectangular ones. She went through a battery of differents tests before dialation, color blind books, the usual "cover the eye" tests, and then we were moved to another room to see the doctor after drops were put in her eyes. Dr. Gayeff is an older guy, in his sixties I'd guess and it was the first time I'd met him. He has a very dry personality, and didn't talk much just went about his usual routine. He put these frame things on her, and different lenses and asked if she could see this chart of letters on the wall, she couldn't see anything. He seemed to get frustrated, put everything away- left the room and then came back and looked into her eyes again with some other tools. Then just as abrupt as he left, he blurted out that she has the start of glaucoma. He wouldn't even make eye contact with us, but explained that she has these large cups at the back of her eyes near the optic nerve. He showed us some pictures of what it looks like and said that she at 40% for something and that at 50% she should be treated. He also said to bring her back in a year. Stunned, angry, confused, scared are just a few of the feelings I felt as we left the office- no glasses ordered- just sent on our way. Katia looked up at me as we walked out and said, "Mom, I wasn't lying, I can't see- so why don't I get glasses?" I said, well, maybe it's like Grandpa- he thought he needed glasses and the dr. said he just needed reading glasses so maybe we'll just get you a pair of those.
After some research on the internet and talking with my dad, I decided to get her another appointment with an opthamologist- this other dr. was an optometrist. I have no idea how long something like this takes to progress, but in a seven year old, this a rare thing. I think I read that only one in a 10,000 kids can get it. I guess it's a recessive genetic trait so it's not likely that it's caused from environmental factors. I'm still dumbfounded. There's a few non profit foundations for glaucoma in kids that I have to dig into further to find out more, and maybe this other dr. will find out it's not glaucoma- all we can do is pray- and like my cousin's husband says, "That's a pretty good place to be."
A blog that was born of the concept of communicating better with long distance relatives and friends.
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"Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content." - Philipians 4:11
4 comments:
I know, and I was thinking it was probably not even a good idea for him to tell her that she'll go blind! She's kind of young for that kind of a bomb.
I don't think she's too worried, but it's hard to know. I wonder if he had to tell her, you know with all that HIPPA crap...I don't know. I've tried to explain to her that they can try to fix it with medicine too. I wasn't able to get her appointment moved up here in town, so we'll have to wait until Sept 25 to find out more. She's on a cancellation list though so maybe something will come up that way. I'll have to make sure she'll be in the front of her class when school starts.
Thanks Joel and Tia- those are really helpful sites!
We are praying for you and Kat. Try to not subcomb to worry....she's in God's hands and He won't let anything touch her or you that is not for your best and His glory.
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