Kasons Cause

Since the very day Kason Gilbow came into this world, he has been the apple of our eye. Weighing in at a healthy 6 pounds with all ten fingers and ten toes, we thought he was as close to perfect as perfect could get! At just eight months has already overcome many milestones. He laughs, babbles, rolls over, plays games, and can hold himself up. He has such a funny personality and constantly keeps his dad and me laughing. He has the sweetest smile that could warm anyone's heart. I could go on and on about what a smart and determined little boy Kason has developed into. He truly was heaven sent to us.

But just several days before Kason turned three months old, on February 21st, he was diagnosed with Bilateral Optic Nerve Hypoplasia with Nystagmus. Optic Nerve Hypoplasia is a medical condition that causes the underdevelopment of the optic nerves. After receiving the news, he was then scheduled for an MRI on the 29th of March to check for possible problems with his pituitary gland. He was also scheduled for an appointment with an endocrinologist to check his growth hormones, as this can also be an issue with children with ONH. The night after the MRI was one of the hardest. Both Layne and I were mentally exhausted but praying and hoping for the very best.

We received a phone call the next day telling us that Kason had a normal pituitary gland. This was a huge weight off of our shoulders. It felt like we could actually breathe again and gave us confidence that things were going to start looking better. After the endocrinologist looked at Kason and ran blood work, we found out that he was growing just as he should. He will have to have consistent checkups from here on out to make sure nothing changes, of course.

What bothered Layne and me the most was being told that there is nothing we can do to help Kason see. We want to do everything possible for him, so he now has two therapists. One of them, Mrs. Mary, comes once a week from Jonesboro to help with his development. The other one comes once a month from Little Rock, School for the Blind. Her name is Mrs. Raspberry and she helps with a little bit of everything. They both work so well with Kason! Still, after all this, we felt like there had to be more. So after doing some researching, we came across stem cell treatments that are being offered in China. After looking into it and seeing the many successful stories from this procedure, we knew right away we were interested! Like any medical procedure, the amount of improvement differs from individual to individual. In cases that do benefit from the procedure, the improvements are there to stay with no regression.

This is a huge opportunity for us and fills us with so much hope. If anything, we will live knowing we did everything we possibly could to make life a little easier for our precious son. Any donations would be greatly appreciated at this time. We are trying to raise at least $45,000 to cover treatment cost and expenses. Donations can also be made to Kason's Cause at Farmers Bank in Blytheville. We hope to be on our way to China around this time next year!

Much love & appreciation from The Gilbow family