Emotional

Two years ago, Rebekah saw an eye surgeon, Dr. Basti, for her lens dislocation. At that time he had recommended trying the contact lenses as a method for improving her vision before considering surgery. As we learned from our last visit with Rebekah's Ophthalmologist, the contact lenses were not improving her vision as much as we had hoped.

Today, we met with the surgeon for a re-evaluation and today...his recommendation to correct her vision is surgery. Glasses and contacts are the only two non-surgical options and they are not improving her vision enough. The concern is that the communication with the brain and the eye will be lost and the older she gets the less likely it will be to regain that communication.

The surgery will be done by a team of two surgeons, Dr. Basti who is a specialist with the lenses and the front of the eye and also by a retinal specialist to take care of the rest. If you have ever heard of lens replacement due to cataracts, it is similar, but more complex. Because of the Marfan Syndrome, the tissue that normally holds the lens in place isn't strong enough, so they have to insert an artificial lens and attach it to her retina and the outer (white) part of her eye.

The doctor is confident with the success of the surgery, but of course there are risks. It may not improve her vision, the brain communication may not get any better, she might have to have it redone later in life, and worst case, vision in her left eye could be lost all together.

So, that being said, we have to meet with the retinal specialist before we can schedule the surgery. This appointment will be at Northwestern in Chicago and chances are we will not be able to get in for a month.

We are confident in the recommendations of our doctors but are scared to death at the thought of surgery for our little sweetie!! We are not sure when and how to tell her. She is so smart, we will not be able to get away with a quick "they are going to fix your eye" without a series of questions including but not limited to: how will they do it? when will they do it? will it hurt?

What will be amazing if it all works the way it is supposed to, will be seeing her experience the world with clarity and we cannot wait to see where her artistic talents will go. She is so observant and her whole world could be opened up to new possibilities!!!!

Thank you again for all of your prayers and support!

Love,
Casey, Deanna
Rebekah and Aaron