If you’ve been around here long enough, you’ll probably be tired of my recap posts, if you’re not already. But its good for me to remember and look back and see how far we’ve come.
Four years ago, Dekker had his eye surgery.
If you’ve known our family for the last 5+ years, you know some of the struggles we went through. Dekker went from being shy and cautious to straight up fear of people. Not only people, but changes in the ground, weather, CROWDS, everything. I am so pleased with our decision to have his eyes and vision repaired when we did, because it was time for him to have some relief.
Straight out of recovery, his eyes looked awful and bloody. But they were STRAIGHT! Bang on straight!
What a time that was. SO many feelings.
As lots of you know, his surgery was successful and a huge win, but he was more terrified than ever. We believe that being taken from us and hauled off into the ER was really traumatizing for him. For about a year after his surgery, we barely took him out. It was unbelievably hard to take him from place to place, where he would just scream at anyone who made eye contact with him. He was so so scared, and it was SO hard to be his mama in those moments. My heart hurt so badly for him, and I didn’t know how to help. We finally gave him a reprieve and just didn’t take him into crowds for literal months. And when we finally did again, he was still shy and quiet, but he was done screaming. He was just a little bit older, and a little bit more comfortable.
Four years later, you would never have known he was the way he was at age 2.5. He is social, snd brave. He reads, and participates well in school. He is no longer afraid of the big groups at school, and confidently performed in his school’s Christmas concert choir in front of bright lights and a big crowd. When people speak to him in stores, he answers. When people mosey around the church to greet each other, he wanders out from the safety of our bench and finds people to shake hands with. Best of all, when he goes to his eye doctor, he sits in the chair on his own, cooperates with his tests, and no longer requires bribes, snacks, toys, and incentives to get through the appointment. He used to struggle from the moment his ID bracelet went on to the moment we were in the elevator on our way out. These days, its just so so different.
Dekker is a whole different boy than he was four years ago. Lots of things play a role in who we become, but I am so pleased with our decision to go through with his surgery! What. A. Change. He is sure footed and strong and confident!
Keep doing what you’re doing, Dekker! We are SO proud of you!!