Four-thirty am. That's when my phone buzzed. No, it wasn't one of those middle of the night calls that is never good news unless it's a new baby. It was my alarm going off, rattling me out of blissful slumber so I wouldn't be late for Mattie's surgery. Since birth, one of her eyes has had the tendency to wander, and this is the third surgery she's had to correct the situation. Somewhere I still have a photo of her and me in Canada before her first surgery when it was hoped that it could be corrected without the use of the scalpel. She is wearing her eye patch and we both are smiling as we sport pirate bandanas. But now her double vision has made it hard for her in both school and play. It's pretty hard to hit a baseball when you see two of them coming at you! She's a trooper, and although scared, wanted to get it done early in the summer rather than later, so today was her day.
The surgery center where she has had all three surgeries is an amazing place. I've never been in a similar facility where everyone is as solicitous and helpful as they. The surgeon and anesthesiologist both came and talked plainly and compassionately not only to Matt and Jeanine, but to Mattie as well. She had a little blue teddy bear with her, and the nurse gave it an arm identification bracelet just like Mattie's. When she came out of surgery, little Bo Blue had an eye bandage just like Mattie. Little things, but indications of the depth of care they give. Our prayers certainly have been for complete recovery and proper functioning of her eyes. "The windows of the soul," they are called, for good reason. Look into Mattie's and you'll see behind those beautiful brown orbs a tender heart. Tonight I'm grateful for her surgeon, for the support staff and the beautiful facility, but most of all for Mattie herself, who continues to be a joyful blessing to Linda and me.
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