Part III Post Operation

To find out how we found out Den has a squint, read Part I
To find out more about her operation, read Part II

Den slept in the eye center one hour after she came out from the operation. I carried her home. She continued to sleep for 3 hours. Too tired from all the crying and the general anesthetic, I think. She woke up once screaming for me because she still can't open her eyes. So I decided to sleep with her so that she would feel more secure.

She woke up at 2pm. Rested and in a much better mood. She still can't open her eyes but she allowed us to feed her milk and later some cereal.

She took up ST's challenge to play piano without seeing (later she secretly admitted to me she can actually see a little bit). I was very happy that she can remember all the songs. I was a bit worried she might forget some of the things she learned because of the general anesthetic.

After that, she opened up all her presents. I prepared 3 presents for her and her best friend EE also prepared a present for her. I brought all the presents to the eye center for her and wanted to give them to her right after the operation but she was too confused to be interested in them.

She was in a very good mood the whole afternoon and she opened her eyes bit by bit. She complained she can't open them wide because when she opened them wide, she saw double images. Her eyes were sensitive but had no pain (thank God!) and we did not give her any pain killer. However, we need to put an eye drops into her eye every few hours and she refused to let us do it. Finally, we can't wait any longer, so we restrained her. She struggled and cried but at least we got it done.

Later, when my brother in Australia heard of it, promised to buy her a princess present for every time she put in eye drops (hmmm.. I think he did not know she need to put in eye drops 4 times per day!)

Even with the promise of presents, we still need to restrain her before we can put another round of eye drops in her before she sleeps.

The next morning (10 Sept 2009), we brought her back to the eye center for check-up.

Doc told us double image was very command after the operation because of the over-correction. He purposely did it that way so that hopefully can force Den's brain to use both eyes. In a week or two hopefully, Den's brain would learn to put the 2 images into one. In the meantime, she can't play outdoors.

We will go back for a check-up in 3 weeks' time.

He also allowed us to cut down her eye drops from 4 times per day to 2 times per day. I was very happy.  But, surprised! when we came back from the center and it was time for the eye drop, Den laid down bravely and willingly and asked us to go ahead! I still don't know what made the change of heart. Since then, we have had no problem dropping eye drops in for her.

Today is Sat. 3 days after the operation. So far there was no problem except she still sees double images. There was nothing we can do about that except pray.

We also follow the Chinese custom and not eating some food like chicken, beef, seafood (except fish), etc. We have not wash her hair yet, worry the water will get into her eyes (doc recommendation was not wash her hair for at least 24 hours). The corner of her eye is still very red but other than that she is pretty much back to her old monkey self. :) All glory to God.