We are all pupils in this life

Dear Family, Friends, and Loved Ones,

Priscilla, Mila, and I had a wonderful holiday break, filled with plenty of eating, napping, more eating, visiting with friends and family and some wonderful gifts for all. After a bit of respite and a few weeks of rest during this time we all have to return to the world that surrounds us. Priscilla and I have both been monitoring Mila's pupil and the lens behind it and have seen the slow progression towards a closing of the opening that allows Mila to see.

About two or three days ago we both agreed that it had completely closed. Dr. Freedman had been on a much needed vacation over the past week but had been great about communicating with us and monitoring our monitoring. We all agreed that she should see Mila as soon as possible and set up an appointment for today.

After having examined Mila's eye, we heard what we thought we would hear. Mila needs another surgery in order to continue to see well. The lens had closed itself completely and this surgery will correct that as well as separate it from the pupil. Moreover, it is not totally out of the realm of possibility that the same thing could occur in her other eye.

For now, we will be headed back to Duke in the morning on Wednesday for a 7:00am surgery check-in time. Our experience is that Mila will be in surgery from about 9:00 to 11:00am and then we will be transferred to the overnight room around 1:00pm.

Of course, we are disappointed and somewhat distraught at yet another return to the hospital, but we know that we must be as strong as Mila has been. We are as dedicated now as we were at the beginning to giving our Mila the best possible treatment and the best possible outcome. We are learning a lot, not only about medicine, hospitals and anatomy, but also about the strength of the spirit, the fortitude of infants and our own capacity to deal with situations we would never imagine. We are students now and we hope we are learning our lessons to continue to improve for our daughter.

We ask you again to be thinking, praying, and hoping for Mila again tomorrow. We thank you for your continued support and prayers.

We will be back with you with an update as soon as we can....thank you, thank you, thank you.

TP&M