Well, summer is the time for relaxation and vacations, but it is also the time to squeeze in those appointments and check-ups that there never seems time for during the school year. Such was the case a little more than a week ago with Braeden. At his 4-year check-up his doctor, Dr. Kinalska (she is amazing) and one of the nurses, noted that his left eye did not track correctly. Instead it seemed to go outward slightly. This is something that Amy and I have noticed occasionally but not quite enough to worry about. However, after the occurence at the doctor we were encouraged to see a specialist about it, better sooner rather than later despite how small it may seem. So we made an appointment for the summer, when we would actually have time to go.
So, Monday the 14th we went to see an ophthalmologist. Yeah, I could have just said eye doctor, but ophthalmologist is so much more fun to say! Say it - ophthalmologist! See, told you. Anyway, he was super nice and Braeden did very well. However, the doctor was not able to observe the problem himself but made a diagnosis based upon the referral from Braeden's doctor and our stories. Intermittent Exotropia. Sound cool huh? Basically his eye moves outward rather than tracking correctly. Commonly noticed at this age and not much to worry about. It could develop further and require treatment or it could not. We will just have to wait and see. No worries, we were actually completely unalarmed by it! So we will just continue to monitor it and make a follow-up appointment in about a year - sooner if it becomes more noticeable. I have to admit, I thought it would be kind of cool if he got to wear one of those cool pirate patches, but that wasn't necessary right now. Oh well. I would have been cool to have a ready-made theme for a Halloween costume!
Well, why write about Braeden's seemingly miniscule eye problem you might ask? Well, in addition to the fact that it is just one of our many adventures here in Drosche Land, it got me thinking about the adoption again, the Waiting Child Program in particular. Not only do Amy and I feel we have been called to adopt a special needs child, I've blogged about that before, but this is an example of how a "special need" does not mean much at all. Did we choose to have Braeden's vision "problem"? No. Does it affect the way we love him? No. Had we known he was going to have this "problem" would we have been upset? No. Notice I said "problem" rather than problem. It's all in how you view things (vision pun intended). This relatively small "problem" is quite likely very similar to the reason that many children are on the Waiting Child list now. However, does this slight "problem" deem them unloveable? NO! Granted, I'm not naive, I am well aware that there are children on the Waiting Child List that have needs far greater than this, but it is a good example of how something small can be termed "special needs" when in fact it just makes them who they are. We are, after all, fearfully an wonderfully made. Technically both of the boys are already special needs since they were both born pre-term and have had respiratory problems. I wouldn't trade them for anything!
Amy and I have already discussed, at length, the needs we will be capable of handling and caring for and we are very realistic. This whole issue with Braeden's vision just got me thinking about it all and has really confirmed in my heart that we are not only doing what we have been called to do, but that we are doing the right thing for our family. It also has further excited me. But alas, that awful, yet realistic, w-word (wait) has come into play. I'm ok with that. Hold on while I step down from my soap box. Maybe my post got a little preachy but maybe not. Regardless it is just one of the many adventures we are a part of!
All is well, we can clearly see that, here in Drosche Land.
No comments:
Post a Comment