How is Kinley?

It is time to dust off the site. Four years and four months ago, we celebrated Kinley’s first birthday and ten months home from the NICU. It seemed like a comfortable stopping point.

But, the original purpose of the blog has returned — to update family and friends on Kinley’s well-being efficiently so the focus can be on her care. Hopefully, this is a quick recovery and short-lived resurrection of the site.

Eight months ago, her ophthalmologist diagnosed her with farsightedness and esotropia. We first attempted to address the esotropia with glasses and then daily patching. The next step is surgery — which she’ll have tomorrow.

Amazingly, after all she’s been through, this will be her first surgery. The muscle on the inside of her eye will be detached and then reattached a few millimeters back. It will be an out-patient procedure and her recovery should only take about a week.

9:02 a.m.

We are at the surgery center, checked in, changed into a gown and vitals have been taken. Now we wait for our turn.

Because she worries, we waited as long as we could to tell her what was happening and even then shared as little as we’ve had to. She hates that she’s being asked to go to sleep.

The nurse and doctors have been great at helping us coach her up. She’s gotten to decorate her mask and quiz the staff on unicorns.

9:29 a.m.

Hugs all around and Kinley is rolling on back to surgery.

She is very chill and in good spirits. She’s so big.

10:22 a.m.

The surgery is complete and the doctor thinks it was successful. The muscle adjustment went well and was moved 5.5 mm. There was a small tearing of the membrane, so two extra stitches were added. We are waiting for her to wake up now.

11:33 a.m.

Waking up from anesthesia was a horrific experience for Kinley, mom and I.

Our sweet girl was so angry and uncomfortable. She kept tearing at her catheter and screaming to go home. Although not new, it’s still incredible how strong she is. After battling for forty minutes, she finally calmed down.

Kinley is asleep again now.

It has been a rough first day home, but it seems to be getting better.

We’ve had a tough time managing Kinley’s pain and discomfort from the stitches and mild swelling. Pain medication hardly took the edge off. It was a pretty restless night of musical beds. This morning a nurse at the surgery center reminded us about using a cold compress on her eye. That seems to have done the trick.

Otherwise, she was eating, drinking and getting around well much sooner than I expected.

We’ve transitioned from managing Kinley’s pain to policing her jumping around the house. I think it is safe to say that she is doing better.

Kinley wrapped up her eye post-op antibiotic drops today. Most of the redness in her eye has actually gone away already — sooner than expected.

Last week was her first post-op appointment. The doctors all thought she looked good. Her eye is now less than a degree off of center — it had been ten off before the surgery. The incision had nearly healed — about 1mm to go.

Since Kinley complained of a bit more pain in the days after surgery than the doctor had expected, she has another follow up in a couple weeks.