NBC's Dateline 6/28: Trapped

An amazing confluence of events conspired to ensure Kelli, Sage and Milo's miracle survival! Sending deep, heartfelt thanks to those who assisted and rescued my cousins--they are heroes (though they may say they were just doing their jobs....)

Part 1: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/dateline/52346714
Part 2: http://www.nbcnews.com/video/dateline/52346785/#52346785
Part 3: http://www.nbcnews.com/video/dateline/52347449/#52347449
Part 4: http://www.nbcnews.com/video/dateline/52346928/#52346928
Part 5: http://www.nbcnews.com/video/dateline/52346982/#52346982
Part 6: http://www.nbcnews.com/video/dateline/52347085/#52347085

Eyes -- The Medical Saga

W's right eye cataract was removed 5/21 and left eye 6/12 -- right now has intermediate distance focus lens and left, long distance lens.

Friday 6/14 -- woke up with right eye vision like a foggy/steamy shower door -- various eye drops didn't clear it up, so C scheduled an emergency Drs. appt later that afternoon. Two other surgeons (mine was out that day), checked the eye and saw something "behind the lens" and immediately referred me to an office 3 floors below that had one of the best retinal doctors in the country. This Dr and 5 of his surgeon colleagues had a look at the eye -- all agreed that there was a rare bacterial infection indioed the eye, and to save it, I needed immediate treatment--which turned out to be one needle to numb it, one to extract fluid, and two to inject strong antibiotics.... If this treatment didn't work, surgery would be needed (a vitrectomy -- where they replace the fluid inside your eye). Dr said those who ignore symptoms like this have worse outcomes and that it was excellent that we came in straight away. On the way home, we took the extracted sample to a local hospital for lab analysis. Afterwards, had a very, very sore and red, red eye....not to mention an emotional reaction to being told I could lose my eye.... Was put on a compicated regimen of eye drops and steroid pills.

Saturday 6/15 -- woke up with fogginess in my left eye, which alarmed us, and a right eye that liked to stay closed. On the morning agenda: follow-up appointment with another surgeon as the Dr wanted to keep close tabs on the treatment's effect. This Dr had a look and asked about my hearing loss -- how did I come to have it? Said it was due to Rubella (German measles) that my mother had had when she was pregnant. Aha, this Dr said -- not a bacterial infection, but extreme fogginess likely caused by the cataract surgery which disturbed the Rubella virus inside my eye and primed the virus to attack the newly placed foreign objects, my intraocular lenses. It took 3 weeks to attack my right eye and just 3 days for my left eye. He said this is another rare complication that he had seen in Canada--mostly in babies. Hmmm...two competing diagnoses...who to believe? On the way home, we stop at Baskin Robbins for mint chocolate chip ice cream not only because I crave it, but also to "ice cream" toast to Uncle Richie, who SO loved mint chocolate chip ice cream, on the 2nd anniversary of his death.

Monday 6/17 -- Saw the Dr who gave the bacterial infection treatment on 6/14 for a follow-up -- still quite foggy in both eyes, but there is some improvement. He had chatted with his Canadian colleague before seeing me and they both decided the Rubella virus was the more likely culprit. We feel a little better, but don't quite relax. Saw the Dr everyday this week, and by the end of the weekend, my eyes are almost back to normal. Still don't distance-read too well out of the left eye as that lens has yet to "settle." Medical saga over, with indelible memories....