Fabienne

In memory of Fabienne, by Anne-Marie Riedinger

“At our Centre, we share a unique relationship over the years with our patients based on trust, attentiveness and respect. Through these close bonds, we become intimate witnesses of the trials they face, as well as their joys and their sorrows. We feel a strong attachment to each patient and we never forget them. Among such patients, I would like to pay homage to Fabienne.

A bright little girl came through the doors of our Centre and straight into our hearts. Fabienne had cancer of the retina in 1997 at the age of 5 and she had lost her left eye. She was being treated at Rotschild Hospital and then the Institut Curie in Paris by Dr Desjardins. Following radiotherapy, her eyelids could no longer hold the ocular prosthesis. And so she was sent to us to fit an orbital prosthesis.

In 1999, retention points were fitted by Dr Patrick Hémar in Strasbourg for a prosthesis to be held in place by magnets.

Despite a difficult family context, Fabienne was a confident, carefree child and her love of life was infectious. She was loved wherever she went.

My daughters were the same age as her and they often met in our house which was just above the Centre and Fabienne would play with them during breaks. She loved coming, and throughout the years when she came back for adjustments and renewals, we have spent a lot of time together and have met all her family.

Her mother, Sylvie, confided in me that before the operation Fabienne had non-matching eyes (one brown, one blue) and she wanted the epithesis to be made with a blue eye, even if her right eye was brown. I thought that would look strange, but in the end I gave into her request. Fabienne was so happy and proud of her blue eye!

We followed her progress for a few more years, but unfortunately another illness took her from us before her time at the age of just 19.

For all who knew her, Fabienne was a ray of sunshine.”