Two Years and One Day Ago

Yesterdays post was loaded enough without yet another topic of importance, so I bumped it until todays post. And honestly, I think its great that I was able to. While it was two years ago now, Dekker’s eye surgery is still a very fresh, vivid memory for me. Being a bit further from it now, I’m able to look at it more clearly, and guys, I was SO unwell when he went through his surgery. Laela had only been born a few months before, and I was so traumatized by that whole experience that I was really unstable bringing Dekker to the hospital for surgery. Seeing him scream and be so scared and alone was awful. Awful. I still can hardly picture those moments without crying. And then sitting with him in recovery while he shook and cried blood from his eyes and nose and was, once again, so scared, was terribly upsetting and difficult. That was two years ago. I am much more capable of seeing how far he has come since then 🙂 So while I know you’ve likely seen these pictures before if you’ve followed me long enough, I feel the need to share them again. Memories.

Pre-surgery. SUCH a little clown!
Pre-surgery. SUCH a little clown!
Right before surgery. Even just being in the hospital upset him. He had to wear their jammies instead of his, which really put him off. Also, at this point, he had been awake for about five hours and wasn't allowed to eat or drink. Needless to say, he was off his game.
Right before surgery. Even just being in the hospital upset him. He had to wear their jammies instead of his, which really put him off. Also, at this point, he had been awake for about five hours and wasn’t allowed to eat or drink. Needless to say, he was off his game.
Finally finished <3
Finally finished <3
Those eyes. They break my heart. SO bloody and scary, but straight. Dead on.
Those eyes. They break my heart. SO bloody and scary, but straight. Dead on.

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And now!! I know, this picture doesn’t speak for the straightness of his eyes, but it speaks for Dekker as a boy. He is SO much more confident than before this whole ordeal, and I am thrilled with how far we’ve come in the last two years.

I reread some blog posts and some Facebook memories this morning that really brought me back. Remembering the sticky patches on his body from all of the sensors and tubes and such stuck to him. Remembering that the nurses let him bring his Hot Wheels cars with him into surgery to try to help him feel more comfortable. Remember the eye drops. Oy, those eye drops. Remembering how soon he was hungry again, and how we gave in against orders and let him eat buns. That day was SO long ago! I am so glad its gone and done, but I can honestly say that I would be MUCH better equipped if we ever had to go through such a thing again. I know more now, and things would be very different. For everyone.

That all being said, though, I praise the Lord that Dekker has had ZERO regressions in his vision in the last two years!! At his one year post-op appointment, our doctor seemed very impressed that he hadn’t had any drops in his vision, nor any reoccurring turns in his eyes. He loves to wear his glasses, so he’s following the main part of the plan to keep things in tact 🙂 There is no struggle related to his glasses or his vision whatsoever. To God be the glory!