Today we are celebrating the return of Brooke’s eyesight!! After over 48 hours with her eyes shut tight, unable to open them due to painful irritation from the chemo coming out into her tear ducts, things finally improved yesterday evening!

With her head still covered by a blanket, she excitedly told me that she was able to open her eyes for a few moments. After about 30 minutes she was able to keep one eye open, though it was still quite light sensitive, and the other eye was still too painful to open. I rigged her sunglasses to hold a wad of tissue against the sore eye and protect the other one from too much light, and she was finally able to get on her new iPad! This was a long time coming! On Monday, she had received a very exciting and special gift from a friend of her 1st Grade teacher who had heard about Brooke’s hospitalization and the fact that her brother was missing her so much. This generous soul had an extra iPad that she sent along for Brooke so that she and Aidan could connect via FaceTime while she’s in the hospital! Aidan was so excited to bring it to her on Monday, and spent over an hour searching for “free games for girls” in the app store for her. Brooke has been anxious to play with it, but had to wait two full days before her eyes were up for it!

So last night was very special for her, and for Aidan too, who finally got to see her on Facetime! Throughout the evening Brooke’s eyes got better and better and by the end of the night, she was able to keep both eyes open, though her right was clearly still irritated. This morning it was like the whole thing had never happened! We had blinds open and lights on all day long! And Brooke was playing with the iPad for most of her waking hours, and had another long FaceTime session with Aidan and her Dad.

There are some other big challenges underway (fevers, issues with her central line, and very low appetite), which I may write more about soon. Tonight though, I am celebrating a win! I feel it is no surprise that the health and comfort of her eyes bounced back so soon after I posted about the challenges she was facing. All the prayers, healing thoughts, and love coming at us must have made an impact! Thank you all and keep them coming please!!