Our Tiny Soldier

Yesterday morning we headed out at the early hour of 5 o'clock. Fortunately, at 5 AM there is little traffic on the road; unfortunately we were heading downtown for Gabe's 2nd eye surgery.

Two eye surgeries in less than 8 months and 3 bouts with anesthesia in just under 11 months. That seems like way too many procedures to me, but Gabe took it like the little champ that he has become.

Gabe was super in a really good mood all morning while we signed consent forms, waited in the waiting room and then waited some more in the hospital.

Gabe with Daddy making a silly face

Another silly face while showing off his hospital gear.

And then it was time for a little Versed, a drug that made Gabe a little silly and unable to remember being put under. Last time Gabriel became quite a bit frightened when they had to hold the gas mask over his face, the Versed makes it so that he was more relaxed and even if he did fight the gas mask (he did a tiny bit) he wouldn't remember.

Gabe feeling a little silly from his medicine.

Then Dr. R. came in to make a black mark above Gabe's right eye to ensure there were no misunderstandings, and then off Gabe and I went to the operating room. One of the nurses remembered our sweet boy from last time and couldn't believe how he was talking as we waited for everything to start.

Gabe was put to sleep and I went to join Matt and my mom in the waiting room. 55 minutes later Dr. R. came out to say that Gabe was done, that the surgery took a little bit longer than expected because they were about 10 minutes in when they realized Gabe's lid wouldn't be straight so they had to start again :( The extra waiting was horrible but knowing that they already corrected a potential problem was quite relieving. Dr. R left telling us we could see Gabe in about 15 minutes.

Well about 15 minutes later Matt went off for a little walk, heard Gabe crying and went back to the room himself. Shortly after a nurse came and got me and I walked back to Gabriel's recovery room while hearing the most heart wrenching sound ever. Evidently Gabe woke up before they came to get us and the nurse picked him up and tried to help him. We obviously didn't make it clear enough that he would not do well if he didn't see us right when he woke up (I thought we had) and Gabe woke up alone and scared, without his Mama and Daddy. Seeing him cry, sob and cling to us in confusion for an hour broke my heart. Eventually his sobs subsided, he had a couple of sips of water and milk and we were on our way home.

Matt navigated the icy roads and we were soon at home. And while Gabe was a bit fussier and more clingy than usual, he was still quite happy. Especially when he was finally able to have some breakfast!

It's pretty remarkable to see both of his blue eyes. Although in this picture his left eye is a little scrunched up from trying to cheese it up for his picture!

Gabe's resiliency astounds me and although he fights the 2 different types of eye ointments that have to be applied 7 times a day, he is soldiering through and in the back room playing with his Daddy right now!

Thanks for all your prayers for our boy!