Sunday, October 16, 2005 at 08:41 PM EDT

Well, the feeding tube came out Monday, and Sam is managing to eat and drink like the big girl she is. The eating was slow--bite by bite--for most of the week, but really picked up this weekend.

She went out to eat with Mom and Dad tonight, and really put away the fish and tartar sauce; Mom even managed to get most of the sauce out of her hair by the time we left. She's drinking plenty, and the doc said that was the most important thing in the beginning.


On Monday, she saw her eye doc, and he was pleased; her nystagmus (eyes rolling back and forth, common in albinism)has decreased, and her illness seems to have had no effect on her vision. She will probably get glasses next year, as they seem to help lots of kids w/albinism, but her doc said there's no rush, as toddlers either won't keep them on, or break them, and after all she's been through, he didn't want to start something new right now.


Before her appointment, she got to spend some time w/her cousin Jonah (or "Jono," as she calls him), and see Grandma. She had a great week at daycare as well.


Her plastic surgeon, who also works at Shriner's, wants us to reconsider Shriner's for her rehab; he had already spoken to them, and told us that they'd be willing to accept her back for rehab, which would mean they would coordinate therapies, prosthetics and any future surgeries. He says we would start on a "fresh page" with them, and is setting up a meeting for all of us to discuss this possibility. He feels her rehab would be best handled by those w/the most experience w/cases like Sam's, so we'll see. We have another kidney check-up Friday, so keep your fingers crossed for Sam.


Thanks,
Jessica

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Fish 'n' Sauce looks Good on ya, Sammy!!

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