|
Families of Sight-impaired Children Gather Together |
|
|
|
|
Sunday, 30 March 2008 |
Source: Sun-herald
Event in Gilchrist Park gives hope to those whose loved ones could benefit from stem-cell treatments
PUNTA GORDA -- Kyah Palmisano held out a pointed finger to find her mom, Candi Palmisano of Arcadia, and grandmother, Billie Palmisano of North Port. The 4-year-old met a new person by putting her hands on the sides of the head -- "She has hair" -- touching the face -- "She has a mouth" -- and running a finger along the right lens of a pair of glasses.
Then, while one of her green eyes wandered toward her nose, she talked about how much fun she has in preschool. She touched the trunk of the small palm tree that cast its shade over her at Gilchrist Park Saturday afternoon. "It looks like a cone," she observed.
Kyah has optic nerve hypoplasia, which results in underdevelopment of the optic nerve and consequent blindness. She can see shadows, Billie said. But advances in therapies involving stem cells might help Kyah and others with ONH gain the sense of sight -- and that's why the Palmisanos, along with about 20 other people, gathered for "Medical Awareness in the Park," organized by the grandmother of a local toddler who traveled to China last summer for a treatment that is not available in the United States.
"There are so many advances," Billie said. "It's scary going to another country for these services."
The event featured doctors and parents discussing the potential of stem-cell treatments. At the core was the Petersen family of Port Charlotte. Cameron Petersen, 2, traveled to China with his parents, Melissa VanGorp and Zachery Petersen, last summer for therapy with umbilical stem cells, in the hope of helping his ONH. Umbilical stem cells are not cultivated from embryos.
Cameron fidgeted in his mother's lap as she spoke with Brittany Collins, who drove to Punta Gorda from the Atlanta area with her 3-year-old son, Gavin, who also has ONH. Cameron was legally blind, and while the change in his vision is difficult to accurately document, VanGorp believes the therapy helped her child.
"He does a lot more. He's a lot more active," she said.
Collins is interested in taking Gavin to China for the same treatment. Gavin is completely blind, though he can occasionally detect light.
"We've been told there will never be anything to help him," Collins said. "It could change his life."
Also in attendance were a pair of grandmothers, who traveled from Michigan for the event.
Cameron's grandmother, Carol Petersen, introduced speakers and urged parents to remain hopeful. So did Dr. David Klein, a Port Charlotte ophthalmologist and Cameron's doctor, who addressed some of the skepticism the medical community has toward stem-cell therapies.
"Everything that anyone does that is new, people look at cross-eyed," he said. "WE think we have a chance to help people."
|
|
Last Updated ( Monday, 31 March 2008 )
|
