Fintan Tadgh: Back to the Royal London!

So much for our break from the Royal London over the Summer holidays! Shortly after our last visit, Fintan's right eye gave us cause for concern as it appeared to be turning inwards more than usual. We spoke to the hospital last week before setting off to Lincolnshire for a few days, with the arrangement that the Royal London would contact us on our return to arrange a date to visit them. However, a change of plan brought our hospital visit forward with our return from Lincolnshire on Tuesday being followed by a trip to London yesterday!

Fintan's initial eye examination (involving measurements) indicated that his right eye was not turning in any more than last time, but the only way to be sure what was going on was to have an EUA (examination under anaesthetic). Fintan did not have his examination until 5 pm so it was a very long day.

As Fintan is getting older, he is much more aware of what is going on and has made associations with various treatment rooms. On entering the room to have his anaesthetic administered, Fintan immediately starts crying and clinging to you as he hates the mask used to give him the gas. It was particularly distressing this time, as I felt he was having this unplanned EUA because of our concerns and if there were not any problems he would have gone through the trauma for nothing.

By about 6pm we had the results of Fintan's examination - no problems with the right eye, but in fact there were 2 or 3 suspicious areas in the peripheral of his left eye which Mr Hungerford treated with cryotherapy. These are not new tumours, but probably settling debris similar to the problems in his right eye (vitreous basing). Although not quite accurate, we had been right to be concerned and are glad we contacted the hospital before his planned visit in September. Fintan has to return in 2 weeks time (due to holidays) for a second application of cryotherapy.

As always, Fintan was fantastic and actually seemed to enjoy himself exploring the play area and climbing on, over and in anything he could find! We also had a blissful hour before treatment started when all the patients were alseep - unfortunately, the nursing staff couldn't give us anything to knock out Archie and Barnaby! At such short notice we had brought the boys with us, but they were very well behaved (with a little help from our invaluable portable DVD player - the best investment we've made!!)

Problems with Fintan's eye ointment prescription delayed us a little, but we finally left the hospital just before 8 pm. Today, Fintan has recovered well and is bright and chirpy, he just looks a little battered and his left eye is now turning in nicely!!