Tanner's Vision

On our last blog I had said something about saying a prayer for Tanner, well know that we have told everyone what is going on I decided it's the time to blog ALL of it on the table! So here it goes!!

In November I took Tanner for his regular eye appointment his doctor (which is a new doctor for us) said that he wanted a specialist to look at his eyes because he wasn't comfortable diagnosing Tanner. I made the appointment quickly, but really didn't think it was too serious.

In December I took Tanner to the eye specialist who is a very nice lady. The staff was good doing all the testing, dilating his eyes. He even got to watch Finding Nemo while his eyes were dilated. HE THOUGHT THAT WAS SO COOL. The specialist came in looking at his eyes asking him what he can see etc... And let me just say getting a 6 year old to sit in rooms for over hour then cooperate is THE HARDEST THING EVER.. But Tanner is a trooper and he cooperated!! At the end of the exam she is telling me about his vision. Basically here's what it comes down to in 2009 he was 20/40 with a negative 4 in one eye. In 2010 20/70. Dr. Ranelle had said that if he keeps losing vision this way he will have to learn Braille by this time next year. Well of course anything she said after that I did not hear!! I know that sounds horrible and what kind of mom would not listen. It's just so shocking to have someone tell you that the sweet little boy who is only 6 years old may have that possibility of not seeing!! HEARTBREAKING is the only way I can describe that feeling! So after this appointment I naturally call Travis we talked about it but we really didn't bring it up for a while. I guess you could say we both knew it was there but didn't want to deal with it right then and there. The Christmas Break for school had approached so we just didn't think about the vision thing.

In January, school had started back up and the school nurse called me about Tanner's vision. They have called about million times since beginning of school year to say he can't see board they are concerned etc etc.. Well when she called that is when I told her about the specialist had said. At that point I had to come to terms with what was going on. And NO I didn't come to terms overnight and still have my days. Anyways I had called the doctors office to get the exact name of what Tanner has, surgery options.. He has Myopia Degenerative Retina, basically the Myopia is the nearsightedness, the retina is starting to detach but isn't fully detached. There is NO surgery for a kid his age. His eyes are still developing and growing so we have "some" hope. And I did have that hope until I got a call from the School District Vision Teacher she said that Tanner is now a 20/80 which means he has already lost some more vision. This week or the following week the school will be introducing Braille to him. With that said they are going to have him in the Vision Impaired Program at school. He will still be in classroom setting he just has help seeing. That was the hardest phone call to take because it became more of a reality! The vision teacher will be going to the doctor appointment with us so she can help me understand what Tanner has. I want to understand more of what he can see and what I have been told not sure how true this is: Get a piece of construction paper and poke a hole with a pen and that is what Tanner can see.

Tanner's appointment is in March 7th. This will be a very busy day for him because he has his pediatrician appointment and eye specialist appointment the same day! Please keep the prayers coming as we are not sure what the future is holding for our family!