Update

Hello everyone. Thought you might like an update on Austin. The surgery went very well. They reattached the retina on his right (working) eye. The surgeon said it had torn all around, in many spots. He also treated the left eye (his lazy eye) with a laser, because it showed signs of tearing in the future. This is not the same laser surgery that we're use to talking about. It is not a laser for vision. This laser seals the retina to the back of the (eye?) We arrived at the hospital at 6:15 am and were home by 1pm.


In order to "hold" the newly laser-sealed-retina in place, they filled his eye with a gas bubble that puts pressure on the retina (so it will stay in place.) The gas bubble makes it so he cannot see out of his eye. It also requires Austin to keep his head down at all times. He cannot look up, sleep on his back, or sit upright (with his head in an upright position) for 7 days. For example, when he's walking, he has to look at his toes. The bubble gradually disintegrates over a 3 to 6 week period. At that point, we'll have an idea of how good his vision will be. The surgeon also said his vision could continue to change (improve hopefully) for up to 9 or 10 months. He did say that the torn retina reached the macula. Devestating news. Science would say with the damaged macula, his vision has been permanently compromised.

But are we EVER surprised by what priesthood power, fasting, temple attendance, and fervent prayer can accomplish? We are so grateful for all your love, support, prayers, fasting, phone calls & emailing. We ask you to continue to remember to pray and fast for Austin's vision to return. He is an amazing young man who has always kept the commandments, served his freinds and family and lived close to the spirit. I pray the Lord will see fit to bless him with the ability to live a wonderfully productive life until his mission on earth is accomplished.

He needs to be able to see through one of his eyes. This will not be overwith for several months. Please keep his name in your temples!

We love you,
Laurie

Austin

Dear family,


A lot has happened in the last 15 hours. We discovered that Austin's retina has paritally detached and he will be having surgery Friday (Jan 15) @ 7:30 am. A detached retina is very serious! Unfortunately for Austin, he only has one eye that the brain uses and one eye that the brain has turned "off." The detached retina is in the eye he uses. So you can understand how frightening this is for him to imagine any permanent damage to the eye he uses. The surgeon said this can happen to people who are extremely nearsighted, which he is. And he said it has probably been "tearing" for many months, if not years. Austin's vision became blurry in the last few days...which prompted the examination.

The same "tearing" is going to happen in his other eye (the one the brain turned off.) So they will also do a laser surgery on that eye...to seal it off so it won't tear.

Complications: After surgery, the retina could detach again, even several times, and they would keep doing the surgery over and over, hoping it will stay in place. After healing, a cataract could form on his eye which would have to be removed. Finally, his vision, even after reattaching the retina could remain blurry.

Our family is going to fast tomorrow, Thursday. Please pray for Austin! He is frightened, mostly because he only has one working eye and now it is not working. Please pray for the surgery to go well and for the retina to STAY ATTACHED! Please pray for his vision to improve upon healing (it may take a long time). And that he'll be spared a cataract surgery as well as additional surgeries.

Please add his name to your temple prayer rolls. Of course he's been administered to.

I sure love you each one. I know you are stalwart, faithful, temple-going people and your prayers and faith will make a difference! Your prayers and faith made all the difference in my outcome last summer. Thanks for your love and support!

Laurie and Joel

PS. If I've left anyone out of this email, it was not on purpose. I don't have everyone's email address. Please forward to other family members if you'd like.