What is FEVR . . . and how come I don’t know anyone with it? August 20, 2009

FEVR retina photo

First, they told me my son had Retinopathy Prematurity, but he was not premature. So they say it may be FEVR – Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy, which is a genetic disease – but no one else in my family has ever been diagnosed with this. My son is eleven years old. The problem with his retina was discovered when he was three. Up till now, it has not caused any change in his vision. But now, all of a sudden, he as a quick and growing blind spot due to bleeding and fluid in his left eye which  is pooling up behind the retina. He is scheduled for surgery next week, and has to be put under for the procedure, since he is a child. From what I have read online regarding this disease, it often requires recurring treatment and surgeries. I don’t know ANYONE whose child has this! I’d love to hear from any parents that are going through this -

Retinopathy of Prematurity – how the heck did my son get this? August 18, 2009

I’m a little freaked out today. Found out my 11 year old son has to have surgery on his retina to stop the sudden blindness he has in his left eye. He went from 20/20 vision to 20/200 within 6 weeks!

His eye trouble is not completely out of the blue. He was diagnosed at age 3 with “Retinopathy of Prematurity“, a condition that happens almost exclusively in premature births. But my son was full term! I just don’t understand how the hell he got this! And I’ve never heard of anyone else’s child who has it, premature or not.

The condition consists of scaring on the retina. The symptom is an eye that is off center. The reason is, the scarring causes the center of vision to pull off center, making the eye focus off center. My pediatrition diagnosed it as “Lazy Eye”, but the opthamologist  saw what it was and referred me to a retina specialist.

So, he’s been seeing a retina specialist every six months for the past 8 years. The doctor always said, the possibility of danger may come as he grows and the scarring stretches, possibly pulling capillaries and causing bleeding, with the extreme danger being retina detachment.

Well, we went 6 weeks ago for our usual appointment, and the doctor saw some bleeding, which has happened before and went away. He asked for a 6 week follow up. During that time, my son started noticing a blind spot and said that things in that eye looked wavy. I did call the doctor to make sure I shouldn’t come in sooner. But they had me keep my appointment till today and turns out – my son went from 20/20 to 20/200 in that 6 weeks!

I am very scared for him! Surgery is next Thursday. I would love to hear from any other parents who have kids with this condition! Especially if they were NOT premature babies! My son was full term and 8 lbs!

Spay and Neuter or Don’t be a Pet Owner! August 13, 2009

I am SO Sad! And so sick of stupid pet owners!!!! If you can’t afford to spay or neuter your pet, YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE ONE!!!

I was shopping with my kids at a large outdoor shopping center yesterday (Eastvale, for those of you who know the area). I was in the store only 30 minutes, then when I came out to my car, there was a grocery cart propped up against my drivers door. Guess what was inside? A whining, panting puppy, and a blanket. It was 90+ degrees in that parking lot! Some idiot purposely picked ME to drop his litter on!

Don’t get me wrong- I am a HUGE animal lover! Have 3 pets of my own (4 if you count a hampster). I don’t have room for another pet! So there I am, with 3 kids crying over this puppy! I’m on my cell phone trying to figure out who to call. I couldn’t abandon the poor thing. So I end up getting the Animal Shelter on the phone, then driving the 20 minutes to get there, then I have to “pick a number” and wait in the crowded lobby for my turn to turn in the line to turn in a puppy that is not mine anyways! All while my kids are crying that they want to keep it!!!

CRUEL, CRUEL , STUPID, SELFISH PEOPLE!!! Don’t Litter! Spay and Neuter!!!

Go to your local Humane Society to (A) have your pet spayed or neutered and to (B) adopt an abandoned puppy or kitten