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I was so pleased with all of the
information that your site provided. It gave me and my son Jac insight
about what we needed to know as his enucleation procedure was
in process. In addition it helped us to understand why there was a
required healing time
before he was fitted for his prosthesis.
Jac is 11 years old, and
had to have his left eye removed due to a bb gun accident at a friends
home. They were playing and he was hit with a bb that actually entered
in the middle of his forehead (between his eyes), and hit his skull
(ricocheted off) and went through his eye.
It was a very difficult time for me. I dealt with it better knowing Jac would not suffer any brain damage, and although the eye would be removed, he would be okay.
My son never seemed to miss a beat.
He has continued in his extra curricular activities, and is anxiously
awaiting the new school year to start. He was injured right at the last
week of school as the year ended this year.
We went to school the last
day to assure his classmates he was "okay" and it was good therapy for
them and my son. He brought all of his eye care materials to show them
how he needed to take care of his eye prior to the enucleation. They
were happy to know he wasn't looking like a monster and he was happy to
know they still really cared about him no matter what. That was Jac's only fear, was
acceptance and how people would feel about him now.
Over the summer many
of his friends have visited and called. It made him feel like it was
going to be no big deal to return to school and that he was still very
much liked. Jac's
temporary prosthesis looked good, but the permanent one which we will
soon receive will fill in the sulcus (sunken area above his eye) much better and the
iris painting they did is wonderful.
He has gone swimming over the summer months, of course with a pair of goggles). He has been back riding his minibike and go-kart. He and his brothers have played basketball, soccer, and tackle football in the yard with friends. We insist on him wearing a pair of safety goggles when riding the motorized vehicles of course along with his helmet, and for all other daily activities he has a nice pair of polycarbonate lens glasses to keep the right eye protected. We usually don't even need to remind him to put them on, it has become a habit already, and that is great considering this only happened 3 months ago. I did spend many weeks biting my tongue, not wanting him to do anything. Although it was hard to let go, I did however and he's a fine, normal, active boy.
I believe like many of the others
who have shared their stories... if you don't allow it to slow you down
then it wont. Jac was determined to carry on like any other day, like
any other person. He has truly been an inspiration to all of us who know
and love him.
I feel the stories that people share
on this site are so important
and provide very valuable information. We also had a man come visit
us who has worn a prosthesis for 63 years. He lost his eye to cancer
when he was 2 years old. It was great for my son to hear him tell all
the things he never missed, and for me to know he would be fine.
I know this has been a long story, but
I thought it was worth sharing. Perhaps others out there will enjoy reading
this, as much as I have enjoyed reading many of the other stories. It has helped
me very much and I appreciate having the opportunity to share my story
with others.
If you are a parent who would like to write me about your child's eye loss, please do so. |
