We've Got Glasses!

We picked up B's glasses yesterday. The tech at the doctor's office helped tighten them on his face and he didn't even scream. He sat quietly in my lap and let her tighten the frames. Yay!

He did the cutest thing once they were on his nose -- he smiled, he pushed them up and down, peeking over the rims, admiring his clear vision and brand-new sight. And surprise, surprise: he kept them on his face!!

Until we got home. I took them off for nap, but then he refused to wear them again the rest of the day.

But today (day 2 with our glasses!) he's much better and willingly wearing them. He wore them all morning and we just removed them for nap time. Wish us luck he puts them back on willingly after his nap.

We have to go back to the doctor's office tomorrow though because the frames are too loose and slide down his face a bit more than they should. Not entirely terrible but they seem a little too loose for his comfort level.

So far, so good. I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed that the glasses correct his far-sighted-ness enough that the esotropia goes away and he DOESN'T need glasses or surgery and can live an easy life. And be a surgeon or a pilot or an artist or whatever HE wants -- without visual limitations or impairments.

Thanks for reading, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Sensitivity Training, Or What Not to Say to Families Dealing With Strabismus

Quick little vent today.

First, yes, my boy is healthy and happy. The diagnosis of double strabismus and accommodative esotropia is not a death sentence. We're very, very blessed with two healthy children and love them beyond life itself.

However, can I just say how disappointing it is that people -- the general public, friends, family -- don't get how upsetting this diagnosis can be? People hear, "Well, he has strabismus and will have to wear glasses to correct it" and respond with the following sensitivity-challenged comments: 

• "Oh, is that all?"
• "Well, I wear glasses, he'll be ok." 
• "If that's the worst thing to happen to you consider yourselves lucky."
• (Silence -- this may be the worst of them all, when people ignore your concerns altogether.)

I get that 99% of society doesn't understand strabismus -- we didn't either until a month ago. But making my son wear glasses to correct strabismus (and prevent ambylopia, and prevent blindness...) is not as simple as putting a Band-Aid on a scraped knee.

As the pediatric ophthalmologist has explained, putting glasses on my son is ONE approach to fixing his eyes. It's the very first itty-bitty baby step in a lifelong vision challenge.

Am I being dramatic? Sadly, no. If the glasses don't work, do we move to multiple surgeries? Are people so jaded that they think surgeries themselves aren't a big deal or do they think issues affecting the eyes are not a very big deal?

It's just vision, after all, no need to be dramatic...really, who needs those pesky and overrated skills like depth perception (sarcasm).

This is my kid, and it's his life stretched out ahead of him, and it hurts. People don't mean to be insensitive, but boy, how they act otherwise.

*sigh*

Better replies would include the following:

• "You must be worried, no parent wants anything wrong with their baby."
• "I'm so sorry. I'm always here to listen and offer support." 
• "Sounds like this will be a challenge for baby B. What are your biggest worries?" 
• "If strabismus affects B's ability to read or play sports, I have faith he will excel in so many other creative and athletic ways!"

What's the craziest or most insensitive comment you've ever heard? What's been the most compassionate?