The Wizard of Caponium

The sky was an icy blue, with honey-colored sunbeams dripping through the clouds, as we visited the Land of Caponium.  Here Jack was on the search for the wizard (a.k.a. Dr. Capone) to magically fix his eyes and allow him to return home.  The search was long and Jack met several interesting characters along the way.  Many provided a distraction from boredom, but none could lead us to the elusive Wizard of Caponium....he could not be found for several long hours.  

In his travels, Jack used his trusty blue bubble hat ("the prophetic hat," as he called it) to give him special powers.  With his hat attached to his bum, Jack trudged through the vine-encrusted jungle, floated through thick puffy green clouds, battled a wacky iguana, and outsmarted a tricky elephant.  Finally, Jack met two fair maidens who knew the way to the wizard.  In order to reach the wizard, however, the boy Jack must release all communication with his parents and fall into a deep sleep....there he will meet The Wizard of Caponium, who will grant his wish--to eliminate the pars planitis.  Only the wizard knows the magical spell to conquer the gunk with cryo-surgery.  Jack is brave and strong!  He is confident that the wizard is the one to help him.  He places the prophetic hat upon his head, kisses his mother, and floats away on the bed with wheels to breathe the strawberry gas that will transport him out of the Land of Caponium!

This is the story that I created to help ease Jack's worries and pass the time while he waited to be wheeled back to surgery.  I made the story hilariously funny (including boy humor and sound effects) without caring who heard me or thought I was a crazy mom.  It worked...Jack was laughing so hard that he almost fell off the rack and I think for a moment, he forgot about why we were there.  Laughter about totally ridiculous, unrealistic scenes (and little boy funnys) swept us away from the sadness and uncertainty of the situation.

The end result...the eye drops we've been using the past 4 weeks have helped.  Some of the junk in there has settled (Dr. used the analogy of a snowglobe, that had previously been shaken and was now settled).  However, cryo-surgery was still needed because the steroid drops can't be continued much longer without different types of issues forming.  He used a cryo-probe that is pressed against the lower white surface of the eye (where the snowdrift is) and freezes the eye within, making sort of "ice balls" around the gunk.

Jack woke up well, with his lower eyelids seriously puffy and he again looked so pathetic.  The eyelids were numbed to prevent pain, so then he couldn't open them at all.  We were in recovery for a long time, because he had an anesthesia headache for quite a while and slept and slept. 

One of the most sad things I've seen in my Mommy-life so far.. the falling of a blood-stained tear from my little boy's unopened eyes.  

Tonight he is back to his normal self, has his appetite back ("No Mom, the adult menu please.  The kid menu is not an option").  We have to lead him around like he is blind.  Also, he is a bit worried that other people "think something's wrong with him."  The eyeballs are so swollen (and bloody) that he really can't open them that well, and it's not a pretty sight!  He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and almost gagged : (

Soon the eyes will heal, though.  Our trip to The Land of Caponium was a success....eyedrops will continue for several more weeks and then we hope for uneventful health.  It was not comforting when the anesthesiologist inquired if he has an autoimmune disorder, and then proceeded to educate his resident that this type of case is usually accompanied by that....I shrugged and had a lame explanation of "unknown."  The look on his face told me that maybe he knew something I didn't.  But I can't worry about it now.  Dr. Capone said there are no tests for finding out that kind of thing and really no treatment either.  So, I guess you just live your life and pray that Jack will avoid those diseases.  Only the ulitmate Healer knows the answers to those questions...no wizards, no magical lands, just real life....Jack is tough and we are ready.  Thanks to God for a successful trip and for providing the answers we needed to intervene with this eye disease.