Our Trip to South Dakota

My Personal Journey as Preston’s mom
Part 7
Our Trip to South Dakota

I can’t believe it has been so long since I have shared any stories with you. We have been enjoying our summer time before Preston started school.
We took a road trip to South Dakota and camped for 4 days. We had such a great time!
We of course went to Mount Rushmore and Preston thought it was so cool! He was really educated with this trip. After we went to see the Presidents we headed into town. We were hungry! After we ate we walked around had Calla and I bought some great fudge and the guy’s had ice-cream.

We also went to a Cave the next day that was highly recommended by a local she said it was one of the best caves there.
We went down 380 ft. Wow was it cold they said it was about 49 degrees, so we had to wear sweat shirts while taking the tour. The tour guide told us about the cave and when it was founded what does and doesn’t grow in the cave etc. We walked a lot of foot steps, but it was worth it!
After we finished our tour we went out side and it was raining pretty heavy so we decided to go back to our camp ground and make some dinner and hopefully the weather would clear up and it did so we were able to have some smores. Preston loves them!
We were able to get some great pictures from our trip!
Yes we did make Preston Patch during our camping time and driving time. Preston did not want to go back home so we let him go swimming with Calla the next day before we left while Yorkk and I packed up our camp site and loaded everything up and of course our dogs, so he was happy!

Explanation from Preston’s Eye Doctor

Explanation from Preston’s Eye Doctor

I had asked Preston’s doctor to please explain why he needed to start the Atropine again. Yorrk was not with me during this appointment so; she took the time out of her weekend to write an email about Preston’s eye condition that way Yorrk could have a better understanding about It.
Seeing this email is a little bit hard to look at, and realize his challenges. I also look at it and say Wow we have made great progress! And will continue too!

Carmen-
Let me see if I can clarify the reason I suggested trying Atropine again. My thoughts are a little easier to organize in writing and then your husband can have access to the information as well.

As you know, there are essentially 3 components to Preston's eye issues:

1. Refractive error. This refers to the shape of his eyes and is treated with his glasses.

2. Amblyopia- This refers to the shut down of the pathways from the left eye to the brain. It is being treated with patching. Sometimes we also treat amblyopia with atropine drops, which blur the vision at near in the better eye, thus causing the weaker eye to be used more. The best treatment, however, is to patch the better eye, occluding it completely to force use of the weaker eye.

3. Strabismus - This refers to the misalignment of the eyes. Early on, Preston's left eye crossed in toward his nose, which is called esotropia. Usually we treat esotropia using glasses to take the burden of focusing off the eyes so they can stay straight. As a child grows, sometimes a formerly esotropic eye will start to wander outward, which is called exotropia. This usually is treated by decreasing the power in the lenses so that the child can put forth some focusing effort. When we accommodate (focus at near) we converge our eyes, or bring them together, so the goal of allowing the child to do their own focusing sometimes causes them to converge, thus bringing the wandering eye to straight. This is what we're trying to accomplish with the atropine this time. Atropine temporarily paralyzes the accommodation in the better eye, thus causing the child to have to work even harder to focus. The hope is that Preston will bring his eye inward through this increased focusing effort.

Of course, as you know, the 3 above components are all very interrelated, and one problem can cause the others to occur.

Does that help?

Hope this lengthy message helps.
Diana D.

Return to the Eye Doctor

Preston returns to the Eye Doctor

Preston has been a little anxious about this eye appointment. He asked me mom will I have to have eye surgery? Is the Doctor the boss or are you? I told Preston that our goal is not to have eye surgery that is why we have been working so hard towards patching! And if the Doctor really thinks that after all these years, that you need the surgery than that is something we will have to talk about. I assured him that since he has been eye patching his eye has gotten so much better and without patching he would have never reached this goal!
His doctor said that Preston has gotten a little bit better again! Preston was so happy to hear that! He said mom did you hear what she said? I said yes honey I am very proud of you! At that moment I could feel myself trying to swallow and not shed tears at that moment so she could finish saying what else was to come.
The Doctor says even though we have been lowering Preston’s prescription his weak eye has been turning out. She thinks if we use Atropine drops it might help his eye. I am not a big fan of these drops, we tried it for a year in Kindergarten and we did not see any difference. I was also worried about Preston being able to see the letters and just learning to read so we took him off of it. The Doctor says we will try only for six weeks and see if it makes any difference in that eye. I will put a drop of it in his left eye every other day. The Atropoine what that does is basically dilates the eye. I don’t want surgery so I am willing to try it for 6 weeks. We will have to see what kind of out come it is. Hoping for the best! I have faith in his Doctor. The Journey continues.

Rembering a very special person

I wanted to share something that I wrote about my mother years ago, and since it is mother's day I thought this would be a great time to share with you.

Rembering a very special person. A person with lot’s of love in her, who would say goodnight with a simile and awake with one that would brighten everyone’s day. She would comfort me with love, laugh and cry with me.

Day to day she grew weaker and never showed any pain, she smiled at me and said don’t be sad, it makes me sad. She suffered allot of her life and than the lord would not let her suffer anymore. She’s in Paradise where she belongs.

Even though I miss her so she’ll suffer no more! That special person is my mother.

Mom I miss you! Mom Te quero mucho!

Love your daughter,
Carmen


A Comment from Maria

Carmen I lost my mom to breast cancer when I was 20. I thought I wanted to die beside her that life could not go on without her. Your words above are well written and touched my heart remembering those last moments with her. I feel her today guiding me through some of my toughest days. I need to get your info to my niece too. Her little 6 month old just got glasses. His pictures are so precious. I need to email them to you. Have the best mother's day."
Maria


A Comment from Michele

Carmen, that brought tears to my eyes! A few years back I did the 3 day - 60 mile walk for breast cancer and have done many other things for breast cancer over the years. Its amazing to know I'm doing a little bit of something for the pain they suffer."
Michele

Lisa's Story About her son Nick

Lisa’s Story About her son Nick

"Hi Carmen- My son Nick was diagnosed with Amblyopia in K (age 6) last year. His vision in the amblyopic eye was 20/600. It was so profound that patching had to be a minimum of 8 hours a day. I was so proud the first day he showed up at school wearing his patch. He was nervous. We had a wonderful K teacher who let me explain to the class why and what was happening. She then used this opportunity to have each kid cover their eyes one at a time and try reading across the room. We have slowly tapered off and are on our first 8 weeks of NO patching.. YEA! However, we have also learned that patching does nothing for binocular vision (just monocular) and have begun vision therapy. We hope this therapy will restore some depth perception and binocular vision. This therapy is controversial.. And I tell people.. Vision therapy is for amblyopia as physical therapy is for stroke victims... No guarantee BUT we must still try!I am glad Jennifer put us in touch with each other...Lisa"

Volunteer of The Quarter Award to Carmen Swick

Volunteer of the Quarter award to Carmen Swick

Drew Thank you so very much for your kind words!!! I cant express to you how it made me feel when I read this article! What an honor it is! I will not forget that. It really made me feel like I really know that all my efforts are will deserved and that it will make a difference some day! This will be a success, and I am so grateful to be part of such a wonderful team!!!
You all make a difference without all of you giving me the support and guidance as a team this would not be happening.

With Love
Carmen

Dear Members & Friends of the Denver FFB Chapter,
Carmen Swick, Richard Faubion & Parka, FFB (Left), Mark McIntosh, Colorado & Company, 9News
For their great support for our VisionWalk, we honored Walmart Vision Centers and all their managers for such outstanding support of FFB and raising over $27,000 collectively for the 2008 Walk. Thank you again!
The first quarter of 2009 has been a successful one as one of our newest members has come through in a big way. For all her efforts so far in the 1st quarter, our most notable of accomplishments has been accomplished in the planning and fundraising efforts toward our chapter event, The 1st Annual Blind Taste of the Rockies. This event would not be possible without the involvement from all of our volunteers. All of our volunteers are doing a splendid job this quarter, most notably, our new Fundraising and Events Chair, Carmen Swick.
It is my pleasure to present our Volunteer of the Quarter award to Carmen Swick. Carmen has been invaluable to the Denver Chapter since she joined us at the end of 2008. Upon joining the Denver Chapter Board, Carmen immediately stepped up to lead the Blind Taste event. Carmen is not only creative and personable, but she is also motivated in ensuring the success of the Denver Chapter and the mission of FFB.
Carmen’s son, Preston, has amblyopia, which is lazy eye, and she is committed to finding treatments, preventions and cures for all blinding eye diseases. Carmen is an author of children’s books focusing on bringing awareness to low vision in children and having these books be a tool for children to make eye patching fun. You can check her plans out at www.patchlandwritings.blogspot.com.
Carmen’s prior career was mainly involved in sales and marketing for Miller Brewing and a corporate travel agency and she modeled for commercials, print work and runways. Her passion and goal is to make a difference in the world and bring happiness to children everywhere. She has found a home in FFB in their mission and has become the VP, Fundraising for the local chapter.
On behalf of the Denver Chapter, I want to thank Carmen for her involvement and hard work this quarter and she continues today! Let us keep the momentum and make 2009 a banner year to remember for the Denver Chapter.
Sincerely,
Drew McLean

The Truck was Found

Truck was found

We received an email and phone call that our truck was located in Sterling Colorado. We were relieved and scared at the same time to find out what kind of condition it was in.
We had found out that the guy had taken the truck to Nebraska and that there was an officer that had a radar gun ready to clock him and noticed that he had a broken tail light, and that’s when the chase began, that lead him all the way to Sterling Co.
He had run the truck through a chain linked fence and hit some jet skis, and a couple of other things that I have not mentioned that he had done to the truck. The officer said that he had driven the truck for 1700 miles.

He got out of the truck when he wrecked it and jumped in to another vehicle and stole that one as well and has not been found since.
Amazing that this guy can break in to someone’s property that quickly!
The good thing is that there was someone in the passenger seat that was not in any condition to get out and run. Not sure what she was on at the time. She gave the name of the thief and now has a picture of him as well. Hopefully here soon they will capture him.

I am hoping to be able to see how much damage was done to the truck soon. They said he also had stolen a dirt bike that was in the back of the truck’s bed.
I was so excited to tell Preston the good news! I went to pick him up from school and told Preston about some of the story, he was very happy to know that his dad will be getting back his truck after the truck has all the work done to it that is needed.
Preston is looking forward to the summer and going camping with the truck.
I am sadden by what all has happened but we will get the truck back and be able to get it fixed. The best of all we are all okay!