I am at a complete loss for words. I woke up this morning expecting it to be just another busy but normal day. Our 6-month-old baby, Charlotte, had an appointment with an ophthalmologist to check the cause of her crossed eyes—an appointment we scheduled two months ago.
I took all three of my daughters with me. After examining Charlotte, the doctor noticed some irregularities and decided she needed an ultrasound at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. So I drove the half hour to get there. Stuart left work early and arrived just as the ultrasound was being done.
I was holding baby Charlotte and looking away from the screen so the doctor could get a clear image. Stuart looked at the screen and said, “Whoa… that’s big.”
My heart dropped.
They found a cancerous tumor behind her left eye and partly behind her right eye—a condition called Retinoblastoma. This is what has been causing her eyes to cross. I didn’t know what to think. A million emotions and questions rushed through me as I tried to understand what was happening. I still feel shocked. I still don’t fully know what to do or how to process this.
The doctors explained that Charlotte needs an MRI to confirm the diagnosis, see the full extent of the cancer, and check if it has spread anywhere else in her little body. They also discussed possible treatment options, including chemotherapy and surgery. They told us that the team of specialists for this condition is located in Phoenix, and we need to get there as soon as possible to begin treatment.
I still don’t feel like I have a solid grasp on what the short-term or long-term future looks like—for Charlotte, for Stuart, for our family, or even for myself. But I do know one thing: the most important favor I can ask from anyone right now is prayer. Please pray sincerely to our Father in Heaven and ask Him to make everything okay—whatever “okay” may look like for us.
Prayer is real. Prayer works. And prayer will help me and my family get through this.
Please pray for baby Charlotte. ❤️
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