Hunter’s Optic Nerve Hypoplasia Blog

Hunter’s Progression

May 24th, 2008

Hunter had pictures taken of his optic nerve post treatment on April 25.  The first pictures of his optic nerves taken in December before stem cell treatments revealed that his nerves are white and small.  But the most recent pictures showed thicker veins surrounding the nerve that is giving the optic nerve a richer blood supply and better circulation.  They are also are becoming more pink.  They haven’t grown much yet, but his opthalmologist said that will definitely take longer than a few months.  He is scheduled for another MRI on July 7 to determine if the optic nerve has begun to grow behind the eye.  Visually, Hunter is able to locate light switches and door knobs.  He climbed on the table in his bedroom and turned his light on!  He reaches for things when hold them out for him.  He is even able to walk down our front steps by himself! We can’t determine a the numbers on the 20/20 scale as of yet, because Hunter is still too young.  Hunter will be on Fox 7 news probably by the end of next week.  When I get a definite date I will let you know those and the times.  His progress is amazing and something we all still need to pray about and to praise God for.  He is still working on Hunter!  We are waiting to see if we got the grant I applied for to purchase a hyperbaric oxygen chamber for Hunter.  The chamber is a large piece of medical equipment that delivers pure oxygen which will help the stem cells to multiply and further assist the development of Hunter’s optic nerve.  Since coming home Hunter was diagnosed as being growth hormone deficient.  Which means his body cannot grow on its own.  He will soon be starting daily growth hormone injections.  It’s sad to accept and I don’t want him to go through that, however the growth hormones have the potential to help the optic nerve grow as well.  But, the growth hormone defiency DOES NOT mean he has SOD which would mean part of his brain is missing.  SOD is septo-optic dysplasia which is similar to the eye disease Hunter has but is further complicated because the septum pulicidum is absent from the brain.  There is a big misconception about that, but in Hunter’s case he doesn’t have SOD in addition to the other complications that Hunter has.  Nonetheless we still need your prayers and any donations you may wish to give or to help raise for Hunter’s benefit.  You can send those to First Kentucky Bank payable to Hunter Burden 500 N. Main St. Beaver Dam, Kentucky 42320.  If you have any specific questions or concerns you can e-mail me directly at BSMS67@aol.com. I don’t always get to update the blog, but you can contact me at the e-mail address above.  Thank you for your concern for Hunter and all the prayers and support.

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