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P A T I E N T E X P E R I E N C E - O. N. H Y P O P L A S I A
NAME: Rylea Barlett
AGE: 5 and a half
GENDER: Female
COUNTRY: U.S.A.
DIAGNOSIS: Optic Nerve Hypoplasia
REASON FOR COMING TO TREATMENT: Optic nerve hypoplasia is an abnormal deficiency of cells resulting, in Rylea's case in a complete loss of vision. The condition is also linked with hormonal imbalances in the brain, which can affect a child's growth. Through stem cell treatment Rylea's family hope to restore the cell count in the nerves and to see a response to visual stimulus; specifically pupil dilation or retraction. In all other respects Rylea is a healthy and very energetic child.
TREATMENT: Umbilical cord stem cell injections with visual rehabilitation therapy
START OF TREATMENT: 3 July 2007
BEFORE THE TREATMENT: In affecting her optic nerves, Rylea's illness has entirely deprived her of light perception and vision. In early tests of shape recognition (slotting shapes through appropriate holes), Rylea relies on touch and memory, and does not attempt to identify shapes through sight. Optic nerve hypoplasia does not seem to have affected her in being a very lively and happy child.
AFTER THE TREATMENT: Rylea showed important signs of light sensitivity less than two weeks after the treatments began. In a darkened room Rylea responded to a flashlight when shone in her eyes. Rylea's mother initially hoped to be seeing improvement over a period of up to six months. In this respect the treatment far exceeded her expectations.
See Videos: Rylea Before Treatment: Rylea During And After Treatment: Early Improvements - Rylea Responds To Light: Rylea's Progress Update
The following is an excerpt from Rylea's blog (www.nomoredarkness.com). It covers her progress shortly after her return to America.
8 August 2007
We had an appointment with Dr. Brothers (Rylea's eye Dr.) this morning... I was excited for him to see her and respond to the light as she had been for us. He made her a cardboard "E" and colored it black. He explained to her that if he laid it on its back the "E" was pointing up... He examined her eyes, then showed him how she could tell which eye he was shining the light into etc. Then he turned the lights down low and took her over to the wall where the eye chart shines. He asked her if she could see that light so she pointed to it on the wall. Then he asked her if she could see the picture of the "E" like the one that he had made for her... she said yes and was even able to point to the 3 ends of the "E". Watching this was very emotional for both Dr. Brothers and myself since it was by far more than either of us had expected to see as a result of the stem cell transplants at this point. He said that he believes that her sight at this point is 20/400 and that she may be a bit far sighted but we are just going to continue to let the stem cells and God continue to do their work for a few more months to see where this road leads.
12 August 2007
Rylea asked me to go get the pen light this morning...so of course I did... we shined it in her eyes and she was able to grab the light. Then I told her that I wanted to show her something then I wanted her to tell me what she saw...so I held my breath so she couldn't feel me breathing on her and I got right up to her then backed away. I asked her what she saw and she said, "I SAW MY MOMMY!!!" So I asked her what I looked like and she said, "Mommy, you are beautiful!!!" So then I held her up to everyone and she was able to identify everyone immediately. What a miracle, an absolute answer to many, many prayers!
3 September 2007
Rylea's mother gave an interview to Missouri's Joplin Globe newspaper. She discussed in detail what her hopes for Rylea were and how they were exceeded, how doctors expressed shock about Rylea's improvement. She also talks about why her and her family chose China. The following are some excerpts of the interview.
"[Dr.] Brothers and the girl’s pediatrician, Dr. Fred Wheeler, of Joplin, were two of the only people to hold out hope for Rylea “when no one else did,” Barlett said. “I will never forget what Dr. Wheeler said to me when I talked to him about the stem-cell transplants. He said, ‘If there is an answer, this is it.’”"
“They said it would be three to six months before we would see any changes. It takes that much time for stem cells to mature and become connectors. A week later, on July 11, she started responding to light. Before, when you put a penlight to her eyes, her pupils would not contract when light was shone on them."
“When the doctor shined the light in her eyes, she shut her eyes and turned away. The doctor looked at me. We looked at each other. Everyone was completely silent. In broken English, the doctor says, ‘Congratulations.’ I started bawling.”
Read the complete interview at The Joplin Globe's website.
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