Michell’s LHON Blog

About 10 Months :)

May 17th, 2010

It seems like yesterday since I’ve been in China overgoing these stem cell treatment, and not sure of whats going to happen. But now that I think about it, its been a little over 10 months already! It’s crazy to think how quickly time flies by.

Well, at this point, I probaly won’t see too much of an improvement, since this is when doctors said I’d probaly seeing improvements, because the stem cells are now fully matured. But I’ll still never stop hoping that my vision will get better as the days go on. There’s a lot of hope that goes through the power of prayer.

People have started to realize that my vision will probaly stop improving at this point, and have taken the time to ask me how I’ve been doing and what my vision is like. I still haven’t made an appointment to visit a doctor, but I plan to sometme in the next few months. I am as eager as anyone to know what my acuity is now and how well my vision has been since I last went to the doctor.

For myself, I think my vision has been alright. I think it can definitely be better though. But I’ll probaly always say that until I can do all the things I want to do in life. I know and understand that I should be happy with whatever improvements I have, and don’t get me wrong…I am so happy I took the chance to go to China and be the first patient with LHON to take that risk. And I’m happy I saw some sort of improvement, so I can be here to tell my story to other people now. I believe there was both a good and bad of goign to China. And I don’t regret any of it what so ever.

In school I’ve been lucky enough not to use Braille anymore. I still know how to read in Braille of course, but I won’t need it to read all my materials like I previously did. I am fully capable of reading in Large Print, and depending what it si already, I am able to use the regualr copy. Also, on lined paper, I am able to write straighter on the lines, because my vision is more focused on what I’m doing. And people who have been used to seeing my handwritign before have noticed that I write a lot bigger. I sued to write so small that no one was able to read my handwriting. And now that I was able to see better, I write so that I myself is able to read it. And teachers who are very observant or know me pretty well have even noticed the fact that my vision is somewhat better or I do things slightly diffferent. It’s wonderful to know that other people notice these slight and suttle things without me even mentioning it to them.

At home, I ue the computer on a regular basis of course. And I sometiems still have to use my supernova, but thats not a big deal too much. I have come from usign it at a 2.7x to a 1.5x. It might not seem like a big difference at all, but if you were to see the magnification difference, you’d be surprised. It’s amazing…!

It’s interesting when I always notice a suttle improvement or difference in my vision that I didn’t notice before. Hmm…little things would be like being able to read a sign while walking around the block, being able to see the traffic lights, walking down stairs more confidently and quickly. These small things might not seem like a big deal to many, but many also don’t know what visually impaired people have to go through on a daily basis. Anythign that can make one’s quality life better is always a plus.

I still want my vision to be even better. Sometiems I think about it, and it sounds selfish of me, but I just can’t stop thinking how differently lfie would be if my vision was better. I know and understand that it will never be like it sued to be, but still…it never hurts to hope.

For now, I shoudl be blessed with the vision I have. God has constantly been challenging me in my life, and using me in more ways than I can imagaine. I shoudl just live in the moment, and not worry too much about the future.

Entry Filed under: lhon,Uncategorized