Emmett's Pirate Patch

We went to see the eye doctor on October 2nd and he did not inspire much confidence. To be honest, the visit was a little discouraging because he had no data and no information for us regarding the effectiveness of surgery in treating Duane's syndrome and informed us that he's only used this type of surgery as a treatment for Duanes' a handful of times and with varied results. So we're going to Primary Children's hospital at the University of Utah for a second opinion from someone who hopefully has more experience and more documented success. That appointment will be the first week in January, so it'll be a long wait.

In the meantime, Emmett gets to wear a "pirate patch" for an hour each day to make sure that his left eye is getting used. It's a little disorienting for Emmett to have his right eye covered and he isn't a very big fan of his eye patch. Casey got a pirate patch too and wears it with Emmett sometimes.

"Arr! We be pirates!"

Bethany thinks it's pretty silly when Daddy wears a pirate patch.

Bethany tried wearing the patch too, but it didn't stay on long.

Being a pirate with Dad was fun for a little while, but then the game wore off and Emmett just wanted to take his patch off. He's lying on the floor here, trying to have fun with Dad, but not really succeeding.

Wearing the eye patch has been frustrating for Emmett. After a few days, when the time came to patch his eye he would cry because he didn't want to wear it. Then he would just climb up into my lap, cling to my neck, and wouldn't play or do anything. I couldn't find a way to make it a game or to turn it into a special privilege or treat to wear the patch.

Then I remembered that we have marsh mellows in the pantry. The next time he had to wear his patch, it came with a big puffy white marsh mellow. Now when it's time to put it on, I ask him, "Emmett, do you want an eye patch and a MARSH MELLOW?" And he exclaims, "Oh YEAH!" and goes running into the kitchen, excited to put on his patch so he can have a marsh mellow. He closes his eyes and holds still while I put it on him, eats his marsh mellow, and plays and acts like normal until I take it off. Sometimes I even forget he has it on and I hope he does too. Occasionally he'll ask me if he can have another eye patch and marsh mellow and I have to explain that he only gets one a day.

I never thought I'd give thanks in my prayers for something as simple as marsh mellows, but I do now. My heart wouldn't have been able to stand it if we hadn't found a way to make the eye patch more fun and exciting. Emmett handles it like a champion now.

I love my sweet boy! Here's hoping we find a way to help that cute little eye of his. In the meantime, I'm going to make sure we never run out of marsh mellows.