Oh those Butterfly kisses...
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
By: Wendy Welch

Kitten born without eyelids can blink again

Tiny eight-week-old Butterfly was found alone on a busy street, picked up by a good Samaritan and brough to HSHV.

"Eye problems are common with kittens, but this was highly unusual," said Dr. Carolyn Allen, Lead Shelter Veterinarian at HSHV.

Butterfly was born without upper eyelids.

"Bilateral eyelid agenesis" is a congenital condition that causes pain, and -- over time -- damage and blindness. To give Butterfly immediate relief and love, an HSHV foster parent took the little kitty into her home, administering artificial tear eyedrops multiple times daily. Other than being unable to close her eyes, Butterfly acted like any other kitten; she was playful and full of energy.

Surgery to repair bilaterial eyelid agenesis is highly specialized, so Dr. Allen reached out to the veterinary community for help. Veterinarians Dr. Gwen Sila and Dr. Michael West from BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Ann Arbor offered to perform the surgery pro-bono to give Butterfly new eyelids. The innovative surgery involved moving tissue from Butterfly's upper lip to her eye in a "lip to lid transposition."

Sila said the nearly four-hour-long surgery was challenging and took a little bit longer than anticipated.

"It's not something we do very often," Sila said.

A video of the miraculous surgery is on BluePearl's website.

The result? Butterfly now not only has upper eyelids, but now she has adorable whitish "eyebrows" (from moving the fur that used to sit by the sides of her mouth) and a mouth that opens just a little less wide other cats'. The minimally smaller mouth doesn't bother her, and having eyelids to close is truly life-changing! And now, after several weeks of recuperation in a loving foster home, Butterfly is available for her forever home.