Sobering report

Kimberly called me (Todd) earlier with an updated prognosis from the Doctor. She said she felt a heaviness come on her a while before he came out so she knew it wasn’t going to be good news. The doctor said that her retinas are almost completely detached. He showed Kimberly the pictures, and the retinas look all deflated. He said this is what they commonly see with Shaken Baby Syndrome.

He said he is going to go ahead and do surgery to remove scar tissue around the retinas, so that they have a chance to reattach themselves. He said it will probably require another surgery in about six months to remove more scar tissue, and then by doing so, Hope has a 25% (one in four) chance of acquiring improved vision.

This is just me, but I am wondering if he read the report from China that had already said her retinas were detached… I am just a little frustrated right now that he got us excited and now it turns out that the original report was accurate and it doesn’t look like she even has the condition he thought she had… But I have to keep it all in perspective because he is just trying to help, and if she was going to have this procedure, it is probably the sooner the better to give her retinas a chance to heal.

The surgery will probably still last another couple hours from now (11am PST)… Thanks for your prayers! 😉

Mike giving Hope a guitar lesson

Mike giving Hope a guitar lesson

3 Responses to “Sobering report”

  1. 1
    admin Says:

    Update: I talked again to Kim and she told me that the doctor never read the report, but she did tell him that the report said she had detached retina, and he did say he had to go in to confirm up, but that he was optimistic because of her level of reaction to light.

    She also clarified for me that he said that the particular way the retinas are detached suggests trauma such as SBS, not that she definitely was a victim of SBS… In my reviewing of the symptoms of SBS, it does seem very possible to me that she was a victim, but it could have been some other kind of trauma too…

  2. 2
    Heather BT Says:

    I know how confusing and heartbreaking this sort of news can be. The first Dr we saw said Acer had a sliver of sight, and sent us to a second Dr. He performed the first test and gave us hope, but the second test told us, before surgery, that Acer retinas just weren’t developed. He told us that it would be probably about 8 surgeries to try to help Acer, and even then it would be a lot of surgeries for very little reward. We elected not to go forward.
    I believe that there are more retinal problems with kids with Micropthalmia, that they detach more easily or something, because the eyes aren’t formed well. It would look like SBS, but could simply be the result of her playing with her head down and feet in the air, like if someone were giving her an airplane ride by the feet. Read something like that on the space camp for blind kids site I think. (Sorry can’t give you a source, but remember something from this past year)
    I know you hope and pray for good results, not for your sake, but for hers, because every parent wants a better life for their kids. I know it won’t make any difference to how you love her.
    Take care
    Heather BT
    http://adoptakid.blogspot.com

  3. 3
    Alida Says:

    I am so sorry. We are all so disappointed! We are STILL praying and holding on to hope the
    Lord can do all things and will use Hope for His glory. ( whether she remains blind or not) We are still praying. You are such a awesome family. We love you, Alida & Rodriguez Fam

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