Week in Review : MAJOR EVENTS, IMAGES AND PEOPLE IN ORANGE COUNTY NEWS : MISCELLANY / NEWSMAKERS AND MILESTONES

Nearly a year after Laura Michele Small was mauled by a mountain lion in a south county wilderness park, she still has serious problems: Her vision is cloudy, her eyes fill up with tears because of damaged tear ducts and she has only partial use of her right arm and leg.

Doctors are hopeful, though, that a cornea transplant they performed on the 6-year-old El Toro girl’s right eye last week was successful.

“They have no way of knowing right now,” said Donald W. Small, the girl’s father, adding that it will take time to know whether Laura can regain full vision in the eye. Doctors also made a disappointing discovery during the operation, Small said. Laura’s retina, which doctors have attempted to reattach during four previous operations, appeared to be folded in one area, which may indicate further detachment, he said.