The eyes have it
Tuesday November 20th 2007, 2:25 pm
Filed under: Knit,Life

eyedoctor knittingMy daughter was seven when I watched–something, I don’t even remember what–go past her face on the playground at the elementary school. What stayed with me was the look on her face: an utterly bewildered, helpless, I don’t get it!

I hauled her to the pediatrician’s and said, Humor me. I know you just tested her vision six months ago.  Do it again.

She sent us to the pediatric opthalmologist, who found the cataract and operated on it, explaining that most pediatricians would never see a case and could easily miss it, but that he saw quite a few.

And every now and then since then, we’ve had an occasional blip related to that eye. They saw a cyst last summer, and asked that she come home from college this week to get it checked again.  I wouldn’t mind having her home for Thanksgiving, would I?  Hey.  Twist my arm.

So today, they checked it.  A cyst?  Maybe not, now.  They do think it’s benign. Ultrasound at Christmas break.  That’s suddenly a lot longer away than it was.

I knitted away in the waiting room on a lace scarf out of the Geisha yarn left over from the shawl I gave Tina Newton of Blue Moon Fiber Arts, picturing it on the person it’s going to and looking forward to their face lighting up when I give it to them; it’s lovely stuff. As I sat and other patients and parents came and went over nearly two hours, two toddlers got antsy, and I had a Peruvian handknitted finger puppet for each of them. Both of them instantly lit up, as did their parents and everyone around them.  They put their fingers in them–a whale and a parrot–and brought them to life, dancing in their hands.

And I think things will turn out okay.


14 Comments so far
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I hope everything will be ok! I send my blessings. You are so good helping the other parents, it is so tricky with toddlers.

Comment by Vicki 11.20.07 @ 3:09 pm

It’s amazing, the power of finger puppets.

I’ll be thinking of you both.

Waiting sucks.

Comment by Diana Troldahl 11.20.07 @ 4:14 pm

Wishing your daughter the best.

And although my toddler didn’t appreciate the finger puppet when I saw you at Purlescence, I sure did.

Comment by Nartian 11.20.07 @ 4:37 pm

Good luck. I agree with Diana, waiting in situations like this just sucks. Thank goodness for knitting in waiting rooms, though, hmm?

Comment by amy 11.20.07 @ 5:34 pm

Alison,

I pray that all will be well with your daughter. Oh, the miles of yarn knit in waiting rooms! I always feel sorry for the people stuck reading “Modern Boating” magazine.

Comment by Janet 11.20.07 @ 6:46 pm

Hope it all turns out well. Your mother’s instinct told you the best path to follow. I had to get over the fear of looking like an overprotective Mom/wife in similar circumstances. Usually regret not listening to that “little voice”.

Comment by Bev 11.20.07 @ 8:49 pm

Hope things turn out ok, one way or another.

Comment by Nurhanne 11.20.07 @ 9:13 pm

Hugs to you and your daughter… This blog has given me so much joy, but these last couple of days you have given me some chocks!

Comment by Monica 11.21.07 @ 3:04 am

Lovely scarf. I hope everything turns out okay with her eye.

Comment by Lisa 11.21.07 @ 5:34 am

I have had cysts in places like an ovary–but an EYE?? My goodness gracious.
Thinking of you!!!!!!

Comment by Karin 11.21.07 @ 7:18 am

I’m sending positive eye vibes in your direction! Hope everything turns out well!

Comment by Carol 11.21.07 @ 9:12 am

My husband recently had a quadruple heart bypass, five hours of surgery, four days in the hospital. I finished a sweater and he is doing great. I hope your daughter’s eye problem turns out to be something easily solved.

Comment by Judy 11.21.07 @ 11:41 am

*hugs* *love* Will be wishing all the best.

Comment by Amy 11.22.07 @ 9:57 pm

Alison – what a distinct pleasure to see you and Richard with two of your children at Thanksgiving today. (boy was that pie scrumptious!) You didn’t peep a word about the cyst saga, but my thoughts and prayers are with you and your daughter…

And I just had to comment on this post to thank you for my blue octopus puppet! I am just entering into a long phase of dental work in a practice with children patients. I look forward to playing with the kids using the puppet – what a WONDERFUL idea!

You’ve inspired me to get the Ashford Elizabeth out of storage and try my hand at some shorter staple stock – a personal failing, when I am barely proficient at the nice long-draft merinos. (chuckle)

Thanks so much for such a pleasant afternoon. The next time we do this I shall bring my knitting bag which instead of knitting is filled with handspindles and raw fiber!

Warm Blessings,
Maryam

Comment by Maryam Webster 11.23.07 @ 3:11 am



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