-- Hilary's Medical Situation --
Wednesday, November 9, 2005
We saw Dr. Carter, a neuro-ophthalmologist at the medical school, yesterday. After examining Hilary, he informed us that he saw very MINOR defects on the optic nerve during the physical exam. He agreed it was probably the residual radiation that is causing this progressive blindness in her right eye. His recommendation was to keep Hilary on the blood thinner and an aspirin a day to help get more blood and oxygen to the tiny blood vessels that supply her optic nerves. He also pointed out that it wasn’t the nerves that the radiation damaged---nerve fibers are very resistant to radiation---it was the small vessels that supply the nerves that are susceptible to radiation. This is apparently rare. He has only seen six patients with this type of problem over a 30+year practice, but says the medical literature is full of cases. As far as what to expect / prognosis, some get better, some stay the same, some get worse. He ordered a specific orbit / optic nerve MRI so he can study her nerves more thoroughly under contrast. Hilary will have that done Thursday. Dr. Carter will see her again next Tuesday and run her through a computerized visual fields test again to map out what areas she is and is not seeing, to determine if there is any change. If her blindness is progressing at that time, he says we can always send her to a hyperbaric chamber to force oxygen into those tiny vessels under higher pressures (2 atmospheres). This would require multiple visits.
On a different note, Hilary is getting fitted for her back brace to keep the scoliosis from getting any worse until her bones stop growing. She’s REALLY excited about that! (Can you hear the sarcasm?) Please pray for Hilary and our entire family to have strength and endurance and peace while she goes through all this.
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