It has been a week since Maggie’s hand surgery. A week since we watched her carried away into surgery and a week since we saw her wake up from anesthesia. A week of Maggie adjusting to eating, playing and signing with only one hand. A week in which Maggie has shown her resilience and joy amidst struggle. Maggie, similar to her siblings, takes things in stride. Her feathers don’t get too ruffled by circumstances and it has been a blessing for Carlos and I to have another easy going kid.
Last week, before surgery, Maggie went in to see the ophthalmologist for her first check up since receiving her glasses. We had driven to Peoria to have her measured and sized for a specific brand that was best for her little face. She thought they were a fun new toy and would put them on and take them off. We were getting her into the routine of it and in my mind I figured, “Look if she can’t tell the difference between wearing them or not and she keeps pulling them off, we may just need to wait a bit on wearing them” and so… Mama put glasses on the top rung of the “need to do ladder”. It was on the ladder of Maggie’s needs but, I wasn’t going to press the issue and add stress where I didn’t need it, we would get there.
I was wrong in my categorizing.
During our appointment last week the ophthalmologist explained something that hadn’t been explained before. They had wanted Maggie to wear them for a month straight and then measure her during this visit to see if she needed surgery. Surgery. Another surgery. I was flummoxed. What? Why? Huh? I knew this was a possibility but they had not communicated their expectations and the timeline to us. So, who was going to bear the brunt of the repercussions? Maggie. They said they would give us three more months of wearing glasses and then reassess.
Carlos and I looked at Maggie and said, “Sorry kid.” I was waiting for the moment that we put the glasses on, the routine of them going on and her pulling them off and getting frustrated at them being on her face. We put them on her, she smiled and clapped and that was that. No crying and fussing, just, “Okay.” Maybe Maggie could understand the doctor, I don’t know, but Maggie has worn her glasses since. She does get tired of them towards the end of the day and when they get “gooped up” by her midmeal fingers, but other than that she wears them happily.
Rung off the ladder. Sigh of relief. Teeth unclenched.
I couldn’t help but reflect on how many things I walk into holding my breathe, not wanting to start the task for fear of what might happen. “It’s bound to fail.” “It’s going to be hard!” “It won’t work!” And here comes Maggie demonstrating to me that every new thing does not need to be feared, the new thing can actually be quite pleasant and sweet and cute.
Two for Joy 