04/01/08: Chloe has her respective EUA this past January. Everything went well. Our wonderful oncologist gave us great news. I have now scheduled her annual MRI and week later we'll follow with another EUA. Chloe is doing fantastic. She will start Kindergarden in September. We're all every excited about this milestone. She has grown a lot. Her intellegents seems to surpass her age and we're very tickle by it. We love to hear what's in her mind. Children's minds are interesting.
For parents out there, continou loving and supporting your children. Guide them in a good path, encourage them to have compasion for others and to always make a difference in someone's life.
06/22/07: We got the MRI reading back. Chloe passed another MRI with flying color!!!! Everything looks good. We're very relieve and extremely happy.
06/06/07: Chloe had her 3rd MRI at our local hospital. We thought that she would be more relax of her procedure since she's become very familiar with doctors and hospital settings. At this particular hospital they don't give kids the pink surrup that makes them relax prior to the applying the anesthisia as Wills Eye Hospital does for Chloe's EUA. We could not trick her into breathing into the anesthia mask at her own will even when the doctor said he made it smell like pizza. It didn't work! Three people had to hold her down and the doctor put the mask on her face. I didn't like that struggle. It most have been very stressful for my baby. We were out of the hospital within an hour. We went home and she come out of her anesthia with no side affects. Now, we need to await to get a reading from the MRI images. We hope she'll do just fine.
Worldwide Retinoblastoma Awareness Week * May 13 - 19
This is the time we need to raise awareness and take the word to others and insist and remind that our babies eyes should be check every time we go for schedule well-being check up. We must iterate that Retinoblastoma if not caught on time it could have fatal consiquences. We need to promote early detection with our doctors and we need to make parents aware that we can all be expose. We are all at risk it's not a matter when, but whowill be diagnosed. It's not only those who have Retinoblastoma medical history in the family that are affected. Learn more at Retinoblastoma International www.retinoblastoma.net
03/08/07: I found a web page that I thought was very informative. It explains the anatomy of the eye and what disorders it may endure. I recommend you to check it out. http://3deyehome.com/application/websystem2.php
02/20/07: Chloe's appoitment was excellent! She passed her examination with flying colors. Dr. Shields gave thumps up! Her good eye is doing great and shows no trace of any growth of cancerous cells. We are due back in another 6 months. I'm glad that next time we make to Philly it will be hopefully hot and sunny. Getting to the Wills Eyes was a nightmare the day of Chloe's EUA.
I read Beyond the Red Door (www.beyondthereddoor.com). This biography is a warm and heartfelt story. Reading Janet's story have me a lot of strength and empower me to fight for what we belive in. I'd strongly recommond other parents and survivors that have dealt with RB to read this story. You may have a different prospect of life after you read it.
Janet, you had an amazing life. You are a true example of will. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.
02/09/07: It's that time again. It's been six month since Chloe's last EUA with Dr. Shields at Wills Eye. My family and I are driving to see her on Valentine's Day and the day prior we going to see our wonderful ocularist Susan. Looking forward to have some good appoitments. However, my anxiety starting to kick in right about now.
The kids are excited that we're going to Philadelphia next week, because they know that we're staying at the Ronald MacDonald House on Chestnut St. They love it. It's a big playhouse for them. When I told Chloe yesterday that next week we were going to Philadelphia she said: "Today, Mommy?" and she started packing her toys to bring. It took a few minutes to convince her that we were still a few day away from leaving.
01/22/07: I had the pleasure to meet RB survivor, Janet Shaw from Australia via her website. She is a writerand she has written Beyond the Red Door(www.beyondthereddoor.com) A true story that took place in her childhood and she gives her prospective of dealing with RB. You can read some her passages of her book. I have not yet place my order for the book, but I will purchase it pretty soon. She told me that she is always interested to meet other RB survivors.