I am at a complete loss for words. I woke up this morning expecting a busy but ordinary day. Our 6-month-old baby, Charlotte, had an appointment with the ophthalmologist to check on her crossed eyes—an appointment we’d scheduled two months ago.
I took all three of my girls with me. After examining Charlotte, the doctor noticed some irregularities and sent us to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City for an eye ultrasound. I drove the half hour there, and Stuart left work early to meet us—he walked in just as the ultrasound began.
I held Charlotte close, facing away from the screen to give the doctor space. Stuart, watching, suddenly said, “Whoa, that’s big.” My heart sank.
The doctors discovered a cancerous tumor called Retinoblastoma behind her left eye, reaching partially into her right. It’s what has been causing her crossed eyes. Hearing this felt unreal. My mind raced with a million questions, emotions, and fears I still haven’t sorted through. I’m in shock.
The doctors explained the next steps: an MRI to confirm the diagnosis, check how far the cancer has spread, and then treatments—likely chemotherapy and surgery. They also told us that the team of specialists for this condition is located in Phoenix, and we’ll need to get there as quickly as possible.
Right now, I don’t know what the immediate or long-term future looks like—for Charlotte, for Stuart, for my family, or for me. What I do know is that I need help. The most important thing I can ask is this: please send a sincere prayer to our Father in Heaven for our sweet baby Charlotte.
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