Retinal Detachment Surgery

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off to Michigan We Go...

Our family was placed in what felt like an impossible situation.  Zoe needed to go to Michigan while Cecilia and Isabelle would be left in Minnesota.  No one could tell us how long Zoe would need to be gone but there was no question we needed to go.  Someone needed to go with Zoe, but someone needed to stay with Cecilia and Isabelle.  I needed to do both, but I could not do both.

On Sunday, October 6, Zoe and I got on a plane and flew to Michigan to see the top retina surgeon in the country.  Little did we know, Adam had driven to the airport to watch our flight take off.  We flew on a fixed-wing private jet ~ truly the only way to fly. 

We arrived in Royal Oaks, Michigan, at Beaumont Hospital on Sunday afternoon for surgery on Monday morning.  As the transport team left us in Michigan, we felt very much alone missing our family.

Monday Morning

Zoe was prepped for surgery and we met with Dr. Trese (a very nice man I might add).  Dr. Trese explained that Zoe would once again be placed under anesthesia for an exam before he performed a vitrectomy on her left eye.  Unfortunately the exam revealed bleeding in the eye between the cornea and the iris, as well as fibrem (excess debris, inflammatory material and blood) on the lens, both of which blocked Dr. Trese's ability to see the back of Zoe's eye thereby circumventing his ability to perform the surgery.

Zoe would need to wait until the blood drained and fibrem dissipated before the vitrectomy could be performed.  However we had a very small window of time in which to complete the surgery.  Most retinal detachment repair operations are urgent. A detached retina lacks oxygen, which causes cells in the area to die. This can lead to blindness. 

The window of time to preserve more of Zoe's vision was closing fast.  Her best chances were to have the surgery performed prior to reaching 40 weeks gestational age (at the time Zoe was 38 weeks, 5 days).  Surgery before 40 weeks would allow Zoe's retina to possibly reattach itself post surgery.

To assist in the process, Zoe needed to be placed at a 45 degree angle to allow the blood to drain out of her eye.  If we could not get the blood to drain, Zoe would still require the surgery the following Monday, October 14, however the surgeons would be required to take her lens, which in all essence would negate the hard work of trying to preserve her vision. 

Each day the surgeons would come up to the NICU to examine Zoe's eye to see if the blood was draining and the fibrem was clearing.  Each day we held our breath, hoping for the best...Upon Zoe's exam on Wednesday, we got some promising news, there was improvement.  Enough improvement that an OR was booked for Friday, October 11.  Zoe would still need to be examined on both Thursday and Friday to ensure the surgeons could see to the back of the eye to perform the vitrectomy, but easier to cancel the OR than get one the same morning.

Friday morning Dr. Capone (the younger version of Dr. Trese) arrived to exam Zoe and gave us wonderful news!  The blood, while not 100% gone, had drained almost completely and the fibrem was gone!  Both would allow Zoe to keep her lens!  The vitrectomy was performed and Dr. Capone, in addition to saving Zoe's lens, was able to perform the surgery without placing an air bubble in the eye, which would allow us to travel back to Minnesota much sooner.

Most patients are required to stay in Michigan for 2-3 weeks post-op.  Zoe had surgery on Friday and Dr. Capone cleared us to travel on Saturday!!  The Neonatologists in Michigan however were not too keen on transporting us that soon despite the fact that Mayo was more than willing to take us back (they missed Zoe!).  As a result, we spent the weekend in Michigan until the neonatologists were able to have a conversation with Dr. Capone. 

So we waited...

On Monday, after multiple conversations with Dr. Capone and Mayo, transport was set up for Tuesday!!  That was only 4 days post-op!!  Dr. Capone felt there was no need to keep us in Michigan given our circumstances of having two more children in a NICU at Mayo and the availability of Dr. Iezzi to examine Zoe upon our return to Minnesota. 

Transport was set up for Tuesday morning and we could not be more excited to go back to our Mayo-Home!! 

While waiting for transport, Uncle Ken and Aunt Linda were able to travel to Royal Oaks to meet Miss Zoe.  We had a wonderful visit and Zoe enjoyed showing off.

Tuesday we traveled back to our Mayo-Home and were able to see Isabelle and Cecilia...Speaking of which...

On the Sunday Zoe and I flew to Michigan, Cecilia developed a staff infection and was under respiratory distress.  She underwent a series of antibiotics but unfortunately was not getting much better.  Upon our return to Mayo, Cecilia was having a much more difficult time and within 30 minutes of our arrival home, Cecilia needed to be intubated...