|
Wednesday, 09 July 2008 |
Source: The Ripley Bee
Maysville resident Ryan Nolder, 7, has a congenital eye condition called Optic Nerve Hypoplasia. The condition is caused by Nolder’s optic nerve being underdeveloped. Despite the fact that both the brain and eye are healthy, the connection between the two is weak, causing clinical blindness.
Optic Nerve Hypoplasia is a condition that never really had any solution. Once Nolder was diagnosed with the condition, he began learning braille and cane skills to help him grow and develop through his life. However, Nolder may soon be able to see, as an experimental surgery has been developed in China that uses umbilical stem cells to regenerate the optic nerve. The stem cells would help to strengthen Nolder’s optic nerve, and create a better connection between his eyes and his brain to restore sight. While the children who have received the treatment have not gained perfect vision, all have shown a large improvement. Unfortunately, the procedure is only available in China, and Nolder would need $60,000 for travel, medical costs, and lodging for an entire month.
Nolder’s “Fight for Sight” has out reached to families all over Kentucky and Ohio, including Madison Plum, 6, a Ripley-Union-Lewis-Huntington School District student. Plum first heard about Nolder’s problem during an RULH fundraiser for Nolder’s surgery. Whitney Gifford, Plum’s mother, said that her daughter really took Nolder’s fight for sight to heart.
“She was telling her brothers to close their eyes and telling them how terrible it would be to not see the trees and flowers at all,” Gifford said. “She said that’s why we’ve got to help him.”
Plum set up a lemonade stand on July 2 to help raise money for Nolder’s cause. According to Gifford, her daughter is always extremely giving toward other people, and also helped during the RULH fundraiser for Kylie Wright, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor earlier in 2008.
“Madison is always very kindhearted and giving,” Gifford said. “She always shares everything she has with her brothers and participates in fundraisers.”
Plum raised $33 to help Nolder with his surgery on July 2. However, she refused to give up, and plans to sell lemonade again during the village wide yard sale on July 11, 12, and 13 to help Nolder’s vision. Visit her lemonade stand on Center Street, in Ripley.
For more information about Nolder’s surgery or for information on how to donate, visit the website at www.ryanssightfight.com
“You don’t have to be a grownup to help,” Plum said. “I love to help.”
|
|
Last Updated ( Saturday, 12 July 2008 )
|
