What's happening with David
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By Peter Quodling in General Published: Monday, 28 May 07 - 11:30 PM (GMT +10:00) Last Updated: Thursday, 31 May 07 - 08:31 PM (GMT +10:00) |
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Just to give a single reference point to all of the information, in case anyone is wondering (and so I can point people at the relevant detail...)
My 15 year old Son, David, suffers from agressive Keratoconus - a degenerative eye disorder, which basically involves thinning and deformation of the cornea, and associated loss of vision.
In less than 12 months, his vision in his left eye, had dropped from normal, to being able to focus no more than 2 ft away...
There is background on alternative treatments for this described in the Wiki Article at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keratoconus
David, was enthusiastic - anything that gave him his vision back, was a step forward. HE went onto youtube, and found http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYf0j8yX75w (you will need to log into youtube and confirm that you want to watch this, as it is "not for general consumption or the weak stomached".) He told my wife , Barbara, about it, but when she said she should see it, his response was "No mum, I don't think that you should..."
The Surgery was quick, it's day surgery, and done under a microscope. Immediate post operative comments from the surgeon were promising. But this is complex stuff. As a friend pointed out, Heart, Brain and Eyes - the three most complex surgeries, but the eyes are more "fiddly" and less forgiving...
He was chirpy when he arrived home, saying "arrggh, me hearties" with the patch over his eye, giving him a pirate like look. But as the anaesthetic wore off, then started the pain... Heavy (Codeine-based) pain-killers as often as he could take them. regular de-gunking of his eye, and multiple drops every few hours for antibiotic, anti inflamatory and steroid effect...) Of course, lots of bed rest, no sudden movements or strains, an aversion to bright light (heavy, heavy sun-glasses, even at night).
I was holding off discussing with him, the source of his Cornea. Donors need to be reasonably "age-matched" - There is no point in giving a 15 year old, a 70 year old's corneas, so David's Transplant would have come from someone probably in their early 20's. The eyes start to deteriorate (dry out effectively) almost immediately after death, so there is a need for optimum conditions, non-trauma, non disease patients that can be used as the source of the transplant immediately after death. To the family of that Donor, who lost their loved one, in his or her prime, and who we shall never know, our truly heartfelt thanks and Sympathy.
It's now a couple of days, - checking him every few hours, is draining for us and him. There is vision in the left eye (Just), he can determine the shape, no just the presence, of his hand in front of him. It may take a few weeks or even months for that to improve to something useful. And of course, as mentioned, extreme caution about any strains and bumps, that might tear the stitches - the sutures used are apparently 1/10 of the diameter of a human hair... It may be as long as a year before the stitches come out. IN the meantime, his eye looks like a fine lace doily has been stitched over it..
Fortunately his teachers, are prepared to provide whatever they can to help him "keep up with classes", and there is moral support from friends around the world. But it's a long and painful road for a young lad.. Especially, when his career ambition was to join the Air Force as a pilot...
And then we have to do the other eye...
Update: 8 days after surgery... David's eye is getting better. Doctor's checkup today... He is off the antibiotic drops, although he has given him some stuff to alleviate the "dry" sensation in the eye... Still needs heavy sunglasses, and need to avoid stresses and strains...
His Vision in that eye was about 20/200 still normally, but looking through special "pinhole glasses" - must help focus he is running about 20/60 - 20/40 is adequate for driving. The visual acuity numbering scheme is 20/60 - you see at 20 feet what perfect eyesight sees at 60 feet... Of course, that is through the pinholes. And you can't walk
It will continue to get better - next doctor's visit is at 1 month, and then at 3 months, hopefully, the first set of stitches comes out, and all being well the final ones at at least 12 months... At each release of stitches, the profile of the cornea will change slightly, so vision will fluctuate at that time...
2 Comments so far: |
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| How's everything | nicholas ong | 07/26/07 |
| I follows your link from linkedin.com.I (...) | koy | 05/27/08 |
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Top | Reply to this Title: How's everything Author: nicholas ong Date Posted: 26 Jul 2007 12:49 PM (GMT +10:00) Hi Peter,
How's everything? I haven't heard from you for some time now, is everything ok?
nic |
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Top | Reply to this Author: koy (http://www.myevos.com) Date Posted: 27 May 2008 08:48 PM (GMT +10:00) I follows your link from linkedin.com. May i have your contact at my Yahoo Msg.?
Hi !!! your family. |
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