update on eddie

Almost two weeks ago, Eddie had the first of many surgeries he will have to endure. The doctors took skin from his leg (wrapped up now in bandages to resemble, almost perfectly, a little chicken drumstick) and used it to cover the sore on the top of his head. They used some more skin to fashion brand-new eyelids for him. He, understandably, wasn't to happy about all this.

The bad news? Eddie is a baby, and babies can't be reasoned with. Don't touch your eyes holds no weight with a five-month old. While we weren't looking, Eddie managed to scratch the delicate graft over one of his eyes, causing it to partially fail.

The good news? This list is a little longer. The other eyelid took splendidly. Now, when he sleeps, his right eye is shut tight against the light and dust. His left left still hangs open just a little, but he can blink it when he's awake. His head is healing well. His belly is getting fatter and fatter.

And yesterday, when his mama dropped him into my lap while she went to chat with a friend, he looked up at me and grinned. His little scarred face was transformed from a grotesque mask into a real, honest-to-goodness baby smile, complete with gurgling cooing noises.

He's already starting to overcome.