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.

[Texas Termite]

We're still praying for Andy and for your family. We remember him in our prayers every morning and every evening.

Logan, Beth & Nana

[Texas Termite]

We continue to pray for Andy and your entire family.

Logan, Beth & Nana

[PoisedWoman]

Praying early this Christmas Eve morning for Andy and his family. May this beautiful boy be blessed with great doctors who will get him through this time and help him see again. God bless!

[CaptainK]

Still praying for good news.

[MissAmericanPie]

My dear, I cannot even imagine what you are going through.
Your boy is in my prayers for complete healing.

[AnnaZ]

Prayers for you and for your son, and for your whole family... may God's love and miracle hand of healing be glorified in this time.

 

Please put me on an update ping list, if such exists.

 

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[Mamzelle]

Prayers for you and yours--

BTW--sounds like a bear of a diagnosis. The docs may be tired of saying, "We just don't know yet, and are trying everything to find out," not tired of your questions.

I wouldn't do the tape-recording thing I read suggested earlier. You're likely to get even more jargon that is carefully qualified and meaningless and find yourself alienated--also, that throwaway about "finding another doctor if he doesn't like it" might derail the whole thing. You might just get a relieved "that's perfectly fine with *us*"--and having to start over from scratch.

[Donna Lee Nardo]

Prayer bump for your little boy. How is everything?

[SarahW]

Thank you so much for your prayers.
I'm about to post an update...we got some good news about Andy from the neurologist...

[SarahW]

Here is some VERY good news...

PatrickHenryinVA and I are so relieved and happy to tell everyone that Andrew's mtDNA tests for a condition that causes bilateral optic neuropathy (first one eye, then the other in weeks or months, probably severe and probably permanent) were NEGATIVE for all four point mutations known to be associated with it.

(THe condition is Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy)

Andrew has no diagnosis yet, and I suppose that is the bad news, but this test result is excellent news. It means that Andrew's condition is likely to remain unilateral, and he will not be blind in a matter of days or months!

Even if he never improves much (he might not, but it's possible he will, if he has optic neuritis) we feel so blessed by this news.

I am grateful to God, and ro all who have aided and sustained my child (and both parents) with prayer.

I believe with all my heart that your prayers have made a difference.

[Donna Lee Nardo]

Excellent news! Blessed be God! Our prayers for Andrew and you and all your family members continue....

[Nea Wood]

Wonderful news, will continue to pray!

Nea

[CaptainK]

Thank you for posting this good news. May the good news continue.

[tiki]

Great news

[dandelion]

Once again, my sister, I lift you up to God! He knows you and your beloved son - you are so precious to Him. God heals, and God strengthens. This I do believe with all my heart, for I have seen miracles...

[Quix]

PRAISE GOD FOR THE NEWS!!!!

And thanks for the update!

[Texas Termite]

Thanks be to God.

SarahW... what wonderful news! Our prayers will continue for Andy and for the miracle of returned sight in his one eye.

Logan, Beth & Nana

[cyn]

Is there any further update? I am glad to hear things looked a bit better for you all at this point, and pray that this is indeed a self-limiting problem that will resolve with time. This has got to be tough on a 13 yo!

[cyn]

Hi, big T! I hope you all are well!

[Texas Termite]

Hi cyn.. I am doing really well. Thank you for asking. Please visit my thread for the latest update and pictures.

SarahW.... our prayers continue for Andy. Any news or updates? We pray he is doing well and that the rest of y'all are also.

Logan, Beth & Nana