Prayer request: My child suddenly lost sight in one eye, may lose the other

11/17/01 | SarahW

[SarahW]

My husband (Patrickhenryinva) and I ask for you to pray for our dear child. He's 13.

He might have an unusually-presenting glaucoma. The alternatives are even worse. If it's LHNO, he could lose the other eye in similar fasion before Christmas. He might also have a brain tumor.

Glaucoma is suspected because His intraocular pressure is elevated, and he has optic nerve "cupping" that is typical of glaucoma.

He has completely lost the central visual field in his left eye, though the peripheral vision is completely intact. Usually, glaucoma knocks out the peripheral vision and spares the central vision. Visual losses from glaucoma usually creep up on a person. His happened virtually overnight.

He came to me Thurday afternoon, inquiring about what the cloud that had descended over his left eye, obscuring his vision, might be.

Friday morning at the opthamologists, I realized he could see nothing. Refraction didn't help at all.

(TWo months previously he had a mostly perfect routine exam. His pressures had actually been borderline high but there was nothing else "wrong". Drops are not usually started with pressures like he had then, and I wasn't referred to an opthamologist, or given special advice.)

If it's LHON, which doesn't usually get higher pressures, but can have cupping and sudden onset and central field defects and pop up in kids his age, then if his case is typical he will lose his other eye in time for the new year, perhaps christmas.

The prospect of this is utterly terrifying and devastating. Some kids/adults only have the one eye affected, though. Sometimes their vision even comes back, sometimes completely!!!

He's going to see a glaucoma specialist thursday, with an MRI for the first part of next week to rule out tumors that can mimic glaucoma.

Prayer is so needed for my child. Please pray for him. There is hope. I'm praying alone right now.

[Valin]

One prayer...on the way!

And you and your husband stay stong, he's going to need you now more than ever.

[Victoria Delsoul]

My prayers are with your son, SaraW.

Merciful Lord, hear the prayers we offer for SaraW's son. Give him back his health and vision so he could live a healthy life to honor Your name and his parents name, through Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray. Amen.

[Palladin]

Adding my prayers to all those here.

Lord, heal this boy's vision so that he may serve you all his life with eyes that see.

We ask it in Jesus's Holy Name.

Amen.

[Barnacle]

The fact that his central vision is affected suggest something more along the lines of macular degeneration. Ask him if he had seen streaks of light or stars upon the onset of the condition. Also, ask him if he had bumped his head or suffered blunt trauma at about that time.

Based on your husband’s handle, I presume you are in Virginia. I suggest you get your son to the best university hospital in the state. Or, get him to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. The university hospitals are years ahead of others in diagnosis and treatment. Do not delay. If his retina is compromised, time is of the essence. Do not allow anyone or anything to postpone your appointment with the best doctor. This is an emergency indeed.

As to prayers, please tell us his first name. I will pray for him.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Amen.

[Mrs. Xtrmst]

Oh I'll definitely pray for you & your son. I know very well how it is to have a child with vision problems. My now 2yo daughter was born with cataracts (a hereditary condition) & developed glaucoma after the surgeries. Several surgeries & medications later she's finally stablized. May God bless your family & your son and correct whatever it is that is causing these problems. He has the power to work a miracle and cause instantaneous healing or He may choose to work through the hands of your doctors. Either way, he is mindful of you. Bless you.

[StayoutdaBushesWay]

Prayers for your son SarahW.

[MississippiMan]

Prayer sent, Sarah. Will send more. I've also taken the liberty of forwarding the text of your post to Bill Keller at LivePrayer.com.

God IS with you and Andy.

MM

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

May God protect and heal your son from whatever is causing his loss of vision.

[Sockdologer]

Prayers sent. Letting friends know. Stay brave.

[Semper]

Andy may be your baby but he is ultimately a child of God. Sight is a gift from God, nothing can take that gift from him. Loss of sight is a human illusion, perfect sight is part of God's reality.

Do you believe in the power of God?

Do you think God causes loss of sight?

What power is greater than God's and produces loss of sight?

Ultimately, a child of God can not lose sight. Only human belief can make it seem as though sight is lost.

Pray to overcome the human belief that allows a power other than God to influence Andy's capacity to see.

[DollyCali]

I hope that you can feel the love of God's people & the prayers of power & strength for your family as you step into the unknown myst centering on trust & faith.

God bless you. Prayers from NE Ohio to the Lord of Life on behalf of Andy & his FReeper parents.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Prayers for your son!

[DeSoto]

My prayers, hopes, thoughts and sympathies go out to you tonight. There is nothing harder than to see something awful happen to your child and be virtually helpless in stopping it.

May God bring his healing, understanding, and comforts unto your son and you.

[Libertina]

You are no longer praying alone. My goodness, that came on quickly! May God's healing hand repair those precious eyes now.

[firebrand]

You have my heartfelt prayers, SarahW. May God heal this child as he healed the blind in the Bible.

[Texas Termite]

Prayers for total healing for SarahW's son, Andy.

Please God, touch this Andy with Your healing powers. Help his family through this trying time and answer the prayers of all who pray for his sight.

Logan, Beth & Nana.... In Jesus' name we pray.

[Nea Wood]

Adding my prayers to the others for your precious child, and also for you and your husband. Don't neglect yourself, either, Sarah, and please keep us posted, dear. You are not alone.

Nea

[johnwayne]

Sarah,

I know this must be extremely difficult and I hope things get better for your son. I don't know much about glaucoma but I did find a recent article from the British Journal of Ophthalmology, August, 2003 which warns against wearing tight neckties because it increases eye pressure which can cause glaucoma that can make you blind. Bottom line is it sounds like anything constricting the neck could cause problems.

http://www.drmirkin.com/morehealth/2349.html

I hope this helps.

[maestro]

Amen,........More Grace and Mercy,.......In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen!!!