We travelled to Melbourne on the 5th of February for Isla’s 24th EUA. We often toyed with the idea of catching a later flight and avoiding the 4am alarm on Melbourne mornings, but that would mean Isla would be fasting on the plane. Isla’s reaction to the snack trolley coming down the isle confirmed that would not be happening any time soon!
We had a few hours to kill in the morning when we arrived at the hospital and we went for a walk so Isla could have a sleep in the stroller. We met Sandra (orthoptist) at 11am to do a vision test. Isla did well with the vision test and is getting quite good at doing them with Sandra. Hopefully soon we will be able to get some good information from these tests as Isla will be able to tell us more about what she can and can’t see. Sandra was very happy with her overall vision, so we believe the vision in her left eye is pretty good.
We then went and had a bit of a play on the playground before heading up for admission at 2pm. Isla was last on the list and went in to theatre just before 5pm. Garreth took her into theatre and this time they really struggled with the gas mask, as Isla is getting older, stronger and more aware of what's happening. The anaesthetist also thought he didn’t have a good seal on her face, so it took longer for the gas to put her to sleep. This was obviously hindered by Isla fighting and wriggling, so the anaesthetist suggested it probably is time to start trying a pre med again next time. The hope being that a premed will make Isla more relaxed, making it easier for everyone involved in getting her to sleep. It will also be quicker, easier and nicer for Isla if she isn’t aware of what is going on and it’s over and done with before she notices and she doesn’t have to fight and struggle.
The doctor came to speak with us after the EUA. Unfortunately this month they found a new tumour in Isla’s left (good) eye. This was lasered on the day with a good result. The tumour was only 1mm x 0.1mm and is only in her peripheral vision, so it shouldn’t affect her vision too much. However, since they found a new tumour today, we have to go back to 4 weekly, instead of 8 weekly visits. So we will be back again in a month. They said they may need to apply some more laser therapy to the new tumour next month, but they will have a look and decide that at the time. The doctor said the right eye looked much the same as last time, so we will just have to keep monitoring that.
Isla woke up well in recovery, but it was a pretty late night by the time we got back to our room. We had a good sleep and were up bright and early for the taxi to the airport in the morning. The flight home went really well and Isla fell asleep in her own chair on the plane, so that was great!
© Alison Davey 2021
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