Dakota's Eyes

We took Dakota to meet with the pediatric ophthalmologist last Tuesday at the Moran Eye Institute. Dr. Scott Larsen checked her eyes, both for vision and NF issues. The findings were very positive. Dakota's eyes are very healthy. No signs of vision problems and no tumors on eyes or on the nerves. We now have a good baseline of what her healthy eyes look like. We can compare these results with her future exams to note any changes throughout the years. As long as there are no vision changes in Dakota, and as long as we don't notice an eye being pulled off center, or any tremors with either eye, we can wait for another year before her next check up.

Dakota did extremely well, again, with the new and strange environment. She takes it all like a champ. Even when Dr. Larsen put in the drops to dilate her eyes, she just giggled. He was very impressed with how she handled it. A lot of kids cry. We tried to prepare her before she went in there, with what would happen. We told her that the drops would make the black part of her eye (the part that lets the light in) get really big so that the Dr. could see inside her eyes. It would also make bright lights seem even brighter, so he would give her neat sunglasses to wear. Dakota loved her stylish glasses. She wore them proudly as we left the office. As usual, a long day lead to a needed nap. So, as we rode home, Dakota caught some peaceful shut-eye behind those glasses, and we exhaled another BIG sigh of RELIEF. If we can just get her through another 2 years without tumors, her risks of getting optic gliomas (tumors on her eye nerves) will be way lower. (C'mon age 7!) I'm not wishing her to grow up anytime soon...I just want these next two years to pass by without a "glitch" (a.k.a. other risks that are still very REAL).

We will meet with the two surgeons at PCMC on Tuesday (Feb. 3rd). I'll keep you posted with all that we learn during that visit. For now, Dakota's eyes are beautifully healthy and we are indeed grateful for the continued prayers on her behalf. We have seen the Lord's tender mercies already and feel so blessed to have such a support system...medically, neighborly, friendly, and familial. THANK YOU!

Our Brown-eyed Beauty