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LINDON -- Lily Walker of Lindon was born with a condition that made her eyes spread far apart, but it's something doctors can fix.
She's only 4 years old but already has gone through a major surgery: 10 hours.
Her mother Tosha Walker said, "The surgery was a success. It went very well."
Tosha says her daughter was born with cranial frontonasal dysplasia. It's a rare condition where her skull didn't come together like it should, spreading her eyes farther apart than normal.
"She would get teased even being on the playground now, and it's really heart breaking because she just started to realize it this year," Tosha said.
That's just one reason why Walker took her daughter to Primary Children's Medical Center, where doctors could fix the condition.
Lily knew her eyes would be swollen shut after surgery so she asked her mom for some special visitors.
"She said, 'Mom, when I have my surgery, will you please have the firefighters come and visit me in the hospital, and since I won't be able to see, will you please have them tickle my feet?'" Tosha said.
A couple of months ago, firefighters visited Lily's pre-school to teach the children about fire safety. Lily loved them. So, sure enough, a couple of days after her surgery, four Salt Lake City firefighters went for a visit.
They took Lily a stuffed animal, a gift basket and, of course, feathers for the tickling.
Salt Lake City fire Capt. Bryon Meyer, said, "It's a small thing, but it's a big thing in their lives, and it affects us, too, so it's very special."
Firefighter David Wall said, "I couldn't imagine what she has to go through, and what she's going to continue to have to go through."
Lily couldn't see her special guests, but she knew they were there.
"I think it shows their love of children and of the community to come up and do this special treat for her," Tosha said.
"It's our privilege," Capt. Meyer said.
Lily was released from the hospital Saturday morning. She still has some swelling, so can't see too well, but that will come, and there's no doubt one of the first things she'd like to do is go visit those firefighters at station No. 3.
E-mail: acabrero@ksl.com
