Back to the Drawing Board

If you've been keeping up with Hazel and/or the blog, you know it's been an active 2-3 months for our lil' bug.  She had cornea transplant #4 on November 30 (This is #3 on the right eye)...in December it was a mysterious fluid in her right eye that scared the junk out of us (turned out to be blood)... and an exam under anesthesia in January to get a closer look at the right eye.  Since that time we've been back again to the surgery center for another exam under anesthesia and unfortunately there is still more that Hazel needs in order to improve her vision.

We took Hazel to have an exam on February 1st when the blood in her eye was not dissipating like we hoped and thought it would do naturally.  This time around we had "The Big Three" of Hazel's eye doctors all in attendance to look at her corneas, glaucoma and to update her glasses prescription...I have to admit, it was really cool for us to get to see and talk to all three in one day.  These are busy, in-demand doctors and seeing them all on the same day made us know how much care and support Hazel has every time she goes back.  The end result of the EUA was that the cornea from November was starting to get cloudy and the blood/fluids that are impeding her vision are still lingering.  Cornea transplants on kids is really tricky and their hyper immune systems just don't like foreign substances...so the best guess right now is that the attempt to remove the blood and the complications from the surgery causes the cornea to be rejected.  

Tomorrow morning (2/13) we are taking our girl back to a place she's been too many times before to have a procedure on her right eye that she has had three times before.  We are really, really hoping this is the last time we have to do a cornea transplant and that her body doesn't throw us any curve balls.  The silver lining with corneas is that there is a high supply available and (in Hazel's case) there is not a limit on the number of times we can keep trying new corneas if it is really necessary.  There IS a finite window that we have to strengthen her right and every time we put in a new cornea and it only lasts for 3 months....6 months....a year....it just ends up being lost time.  

On top of everything else, Hazel currently has a sinus infection and an ear infection...just in case upcoming surgery isn't enough.  So prayers for her health and a calm demeanor would be really appreciated along with prayers for our surgeons, anesthesia team and the support staff.  

So I'm back here blogging for the 51st time, asking for everyone who has been running a marathon with Hazel to run a little further and pray a little more.  I'll get updates back out as soon as I can...