Saturday, June 16, 2007

A picture tells a thousand words

Sometimes those words are scary.

A few years ago I got an email about an eye cancer called Retinoblastoma. I honestly at first thought it was a hoax email but it wasn't. Who knew it would possibly save my childs life.

You know when you take a picture in low light and you get the "red-eye reflex"? Well that reflex is from the light of the flash bouncing off the rich blood vessels that supply the retina at the back of the eye. It's scary looking, but honestly is the sign of a healthy eye.

So imagine my shock when I got these photos yesterday of Nathan from a friend of mine:



I immediately called the ped's nurse and like most nurse's she was obvlivious when I mentioned that i'd heard this can signal cancer. She talked to the ped, and they wanted to see him.

She looked in his eye and said she was going to go see if the ophthamologist was still around. He wasn't but she skimmed through his books for a minute. She came back and said that the pictures she found what's in Nathan's eye doesn't look like a tumor, but maybe a freckle. However she couldn't be sure. If it was a tumor, it was small. She had her partner look who saw it and told me "i don't THINK it's bad". I wasn't reassured. They made an appt for us for monday with the ophthamologist and they will dilate his eyes (possibly have to put him under to do this) and take a good look.

Please pray that my little boy doesn't have cancer. I don't think I have the strength left.......

6 comments:

Misty said...

I am not a doctor, but could it be from the way he is laying? His right eye is kind of crossed (not crossed really, but looking that way)toward his nose and maybe it is his position that makes it look different. Just a thought. Trying to ease your mind until you get to the opthamologist.

Misty said...

P.S. I just found this. I hope it eases your fears a little.

Retinoblastoma is a life-threatening disease, but it is rarely a fatal one if treated appropriately. With the correct treatment in the hands of an experienced ophthalmologist and appropriate follow-up both for eyes and for other cancers, the retinoblastoma patient has a very good chance of living a long, full, and happy life.

Anonymous said...

hey kat. we will totally think of you in our prayers. hopefully everything will be fine but as a mom its hard not to fear the worst. please keep us updated. also, congrats on the new job!

Anonymous said...

Kat, im sure he will be fine. I see this ALL the time in the photo lab. The eye can make different colors when it reflexes. I have had that happen with my kids too. Dont get too upset ok hun!!

Anonymous said...

Kat

you know me and my kids have a genetic condition right (neurofibroamtosis type 1) we have tiny freckle like spots in our eyes. They are called Lische nodules. I have learnt from listening to the othamologist that a lot of non deadly diseases have markings that show up in the eyes. This could simply be a regular type marking. i know its hard but try hard not to panic yet. i am thinking and praying for you.

Love and hugs

cindy

Anonymous said...

i forgot to mention kat, lisch noduals, look like freckles in eyes and are 100% harmless, and even people without nf can have 1. also theres a lot of freckling in different parts of the eye thats 100% normal. Still praying for you

Cindy