Paige's Laser Treatment

Paige had her second sedated laser treatment last week. If you don't know me, one of my twin girls has Sturge Weber. I have a link at the right if you do not know what this is. Anyway, as a result of her Sturge Weber, Paige has a port wine stain on the right side of her face. During her first year, we did small non-sedated laser treatments at the dermatologist's office. We were told the port wine stain was just a surface condition and that once it was gone, you wouldn't know it was there. When she was about 18 months old and really resistant to the non-sedated treatments, our dermatologist sent us to another dermatologist at a hospital for sedated treatments. We then found out that because of the Sturge Weber, her port wine stain w0uld return time after time. Also, if not treated regularly, the affected area swells (such as her lip and lower cheek). So we are on track to do the sedated treatments every other month for a year and then determine to what extent and for how long the port wine stain is going away and lightening. After her first sedated treatment, she had very dark purple bruising from the laser itself. After two weeks the bruising went away and then for 4-5 weeks after that, we saw the stain lightening quite a bit. Right before the second treatment, we noticed it returning. So this is a picture of Paige after this last treatment with the bruising again. It will be another two weeks before we see it start to lighten again. Paige has been through numerous MRIs, EEGs, and other testing and sedated procedures (including for glaucoma in her right eye). She is a real trooper, the resiliency of children is amazing! It's made her very strong, she does not let anyone push her around and toughens things out, her twin sister on the other hand, is very much a Drama Queen and will not tolerate anything out of her comfort zone! :-) There is also a picture of my two handsome men, John & Parker, and one of the Drama Queen, Mackenzie!