BLESS HER WITH SIGHT
Meet Rylee!
For the next couple of months Rylee’s life was just like that of any other infant, she was growing, playing, sleeping and eating. But at about four months old Rylee was not looking around and making eye contact like she should have been. At her check up Rylee’s pediatrician referred her to a pediatric ophthalmologist who fit her in that day. At that appointment Rylee’s eyes were dilated and the devastating news that Rylee would be blind was delivered. Next a slew of medical tests were done to find out the extent of her health problems. Countless blood tests and MRI’s were done through the next few weeks. The MRI showed her septum pellucidum to be absent and as such she was given a diagnosis of Septo Optic Dysplasia. At that time her hormones were regulating themselves fine but would likely begin to falter later. But there was finally a reason for her health problems at birth.
Rylee was born at 1:11 am on April 28th 2001 at St Vincent’s hospital in
Rylee was placed in an Early Intervention program and soon had a team of people helping her to grow and explore the world. Her occupational, physical, speech, and vision therapists help to teach her to do all of the things an infant should. Rylee was a happy baby and growing strong. At about 10 months old Rylee’s thyroid was no longer able to keep up with her body and she began daily medication to replace it. At 32 months old she finally took her first steps. A month before her third birthday Rylee had stopped growing and began nightly injections of growth hormone. These injections not only helped her to reach the same height as others in her preschool class but also helped her with muscle tone and stamina.
Rylee now lives in
