Day 205 - Friday July 6, 2012

Well today was an interesting day.  We went to see the ophthalmologist today and he was VERY nice----Dr. Meislik.  Actually the whole office was very nice. The gal that met us first and collected information was so nice and she told Bridgett that she was an inspiration.  The Dr. came in next and did his examination.  In some ways it was a great appointment but I also came home somewhat disheartened.  Dr. Meislik said that he thought that Bridgett was doing amazing.  He said that her near vision was doing just fine with no correction--although she does get fatigued reading at a normal font; she can read about a half a paragraph at normal font now.  He said that her left eye vision was about 20/40 so no correction needed.  Bridgett maintains that she is not seeing double and he said be thankful that her brain is ignoring the left eye and so that she doesn't see double.  Otherwise he said that she wouldn't be able to tolerate seeing anything--she'd be going crazy with what she did see.  He said usually an adult will not be able to block that double vision--so she is lucky that she can.  Her right optic nerve looks great--the left optic nerve still looks damaged.  I discussed surgery with him a little bit.  His opinion--it is very likely that surgery will not be able to correct the damage anyway.  I pointed out that the surgery they are contemplating would be just the left eye and neither eye can see past mid line to the outside--so surgery wouldn't help the right eye.  He said at this point we just need to wait and see what happens.  He still feels that it is early in the healing process.  He had us schedule to see him again is six months.  He wants us to still follow up with the Moran Eye Center in August and see what they say, as they initially examined the eyes. I came home somewhat discouraged about the whole thing.  It is just crazy that probably the biggest road block to her recovery happened when they saved her life--ironic really.  But she is alive and here with us and we do love her so much.  Later on in the afternoon I talked to another doctor in Kansas about a natural supplement that he believes can help Bridgett's brain injury and her eye.  He was very sweet on the phone.  He said that the situation is tragic and that made me tear up.  Luckily I have a cold so he probably couldn't tell.  I try not to think about the tragedy part and just stay optimistic about things.  At the end of the phone call he asked for Bridgett's name so that he could pray for her.  I will say that we certainly have met a lot of amazing people during that past almost seven months and we have had many wonderful experiences.  I do believe that Bridgett has touched many lives with her wonderful and happy attitude.  In fact, I spoke to a woman on the phone about Bridgett's injuries and she said oh your daughter must be so depressed.  On the contrary, Bridgett is just happy, smiling and wonderful all of the time.  Her personality is definitely intact and for that we are all so very thankful.