Heidi’s Concerns
Preston has a program that started yesterday at his school called “Let the Training begin”.
Yesterday Preston ran 2 miles I was really proud of him! He said mom can we do it again tomorrow? I know I will be able to run 3 to 4miles. I said yes we can go again, I told him I would walk the course. I can’t run it because of my knees.
Today Preston and I went and picked up a neighbor boy named Evan he is such a cutie! He is one of Preston’s best buddies even though he is 2 yrs younger they get along great!
Off they went running and I walked it like I had promised Preston! There was a young little girl that was trying really hard to run and she said she was getting tired. I had already walked a mile and said to her would you like me to hold your hand and we can finish it together? She said yes! This little girl also has Amblyopia.
Her mother joined us on our last lap and shared some concerns with me. She said that her daughter was doing better but now after some time the Dr. Felt that she needs to start patching again for about 2 hrs a day. The little girl said no! I don’t want to patch again. The Dr. said will you can also put Atropine drops in her good eye. She knew that Preston had to do that for a year and it did not show any improvement for us! The Dr. Wants Preston to use Atropine drops now for a different reason and I explained it to her about Preston’s eye wandering out now. Heidi she and her husband have a concern .They feel that by using the Atropine drops in their daughter’s good eye there could be some repercussions from the usage of the drops.
I told here that I will send her some information that my doctor gave me since I have the same concerns.
I had to tell her that it was also a huge concern to me and my husband as well. I told her that if her daughter would be willing to patch for 2 hrs a day that’s what I would!
She said you know Carmen I think that is what we will do since she is pretty good about patching!
We will start patching twice a day and see if that will make her eye stronger.
She was so glad to share her concerns with me since she knows that we are both going through the same concerns with our child.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Preston needs to have Atropine Drops again
Preston needs to have Atropine Drops again
I am so torn about Preston starting his Atropine drops. I had posted earlier that his Dr. wants him to put the drops in his right eye which is his stronger eye. I know she really thinks or is hoping that it will help his eye come back to the center.
Preston’s eye prescription was so strong that the eye wandered out! So we have been lowering his prescription to help his eye from wandering out.
Here we are trying to correct it from being to close to the inside corner and now the opposite! Instead of him being” Estropia” now he is” Extropia”.
I am always so positive and supportive about the whole process but I am human and a mother and it is so hard sometimes that you just want to break down and cry! But I know I have to do the right thing for him and she only wants him to try it for 6 weeks and see what happens!
Preston had already used the drops when he was in Kindergarten for a year. I feel that it hindered his reading and spelling because of the lack of being able to see the letters clearly. He has progressed so much that I am so afraid of all the hard work that he has accomplished will be affected! I just need to follow the Doctors order and try it! It is only for 6 weeks this time and I really do believe in his Doctor. I also have had thoughts of could there be a long term affect in his good eye? You worry about all those things and the Doctor has to assure you that it does not.
There is another concern about Preston using the Atropine drops. He loves to go dirt biking and I am so afraid of him getting hurt. Will I guess he just won’t be able to ride during that period of time!
I am very glad that Preston has continued to eye patch! It has made a difference! It has been a long Journey but I am happy to have been able to share our Journey with you!
Hopefully here soon you will be able to enjoy the Patch Land Adventure books!
I am so torn about Preston starting his Atropine drops. I had posted earlier that his Dr. wants him to put the drops in his right eye which is his stronger eye. I know she really thinks or is hoping that it will help his eye come back to the center.
Preston’s eye prescription was so strong that the eye wandered out! So we have been lowering his prescription to help his eye from wandering out.
Here we are trying to correct it from being to close to the inside corner and now the opposite! Instead of him being” Estropia” now he is” Extropia”.
I am always so positive and supportive about the whole process but I am human and a mother and it is so hard sometimes that you just want to break down and cry! But I know I have to do the right thing for him and she only wants him to try it for 6 weeks and see what happens!
Preston had already used the drops when he was in Kindergarten for a year. I feel that it hindered his reading and spelling because of the lack of being able to see the letters clearly. He has progressed so much that I am so afraid of all the hard work that he has accomplished will be affected! I just need to follow the Doctors order and try it! It is only for 6 weeks this time and I really do believe in his Doctor. I also have had thoughts of could there be a long term affect in his good eye? You worry about all those things and the Doctor has to assure you that it does not.
There is another concern about Preston using the Atropine drops. He loves to go dirt biking and I am so afraid of him getting hurt. Will I guess he just won’t be able to ride during that period of time!
I am very glad that Preston has continued to eye patch! It has made a difference! It has been a long Journey but I am happy to have been able to share our Journey with you!
Hopefully here soon you will be able to enjoy the Patch Land Adventure books!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
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!
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!
Monday, May 18, 2009
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.
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.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, May 11, 2009
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
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
Saturday, May 2, 2009
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"
"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"
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Our dog Beau
Preston's eye patch buddy
Preston and his eye Doctor
Eye Exam
Preston and Beau Eye Patching
Eye Patch Buddies