Retinoblastoma Awareness
Donation protected
My son, Brantley who is 3 years old was just diagnosed with stage D retinoblastoma which is a very rare childhood cancer of the retina, that affects approximately 200 children a year in the United States. Retinoblastoma is categorized by phases, phase E usually resulting in removal of the eye.
This all started when I saw what looked like a glow in Brantley's eye that I would see ever so often.
I thought I would bring it up to the pediatrician at his next check up. At this check up, I told her what I saw and she said she didn't see anything. She told me that if I wanted I could take him to see an eye doctor.
On august 31st, I scheduled what was a yearly eye exam for my son. The eye doctor immediately saw something in Brantley's eyes. He sat me down and told me what he thought he saw, which was a rare cancer called retinoblastoma. He couldn't confirm this, so he scheduled us the first appointment the next morning to see an ocular oncologist. After an entire day of doctor visits and tests, it was confirmed that Brantley had retinoblastoma in his right eye.
The doctor suggested that we receive a type of rare specialized chemo treatment that is only offered at about 5 hospitals in the country. This treatment would give us the best chances of saving Brantley's eye and was strongly suggested.
That Sunday of finding out, we were on an airplane to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to see a physician at Will's Eye Hospital and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital to perform this treatment.
What is to follow, is at least 2 more trips to Pennsylvania for the next two months, so that Brantley can receive the needed chemo treatment to shrink the tumor, and multiple other appointments with physicians so that he can be monitored. He will need an MRI every six months and will need to be checked by his ocular oncologist at home, where he will have monthly exams under anesthesia to be sure that the cancer has been taken care of and that it has not returned.
I am starting this go fund me to raise awareness to all parents who have young children so that they can gain a better understanding of what this rare eye cancer is, and to "know the glow." Our pediatrician had never heard of it, so teach your pediatrician what it is. And of course to help with the medical and traveling expenses to follow.
Brantley is my hero, he is the strongest little boy, and I know he'll power through this.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Thank you for all of your help and support.
Julia Millsap
This all started when I saw what looked like a glow in Brantley's eye that I would see ever so often.
I thought I would bring it up to the pediatrician at his next check up. At this check up, I told her what I saw and she said she didn't see anything. She told me that if I wanted I could take him to see an eye doctor.
On august 31st, I scheduled what was a yearly eye exam for my son. The eye doctor immediately saw something in Brantley's eyes. He sat me down and told me what he thought he saw, which was a rare cancer called retinoblastoma. He couldn't confirm this, so he scheduled us the first appointment the next morning to see an ocular oncologist. After an entire day of doctor visits and tests, it was confirmed that Brantley had retinoblastoma in his right eye.
The doctor suggested that we receive a type of rare specialized chemo treatment that is only offered at about 5 hospitals in the country. This treatment would give us the best chances of saving Brantley's eye and was strongly suggested.
That Sunday of finding out, we were on an airplane to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to see a physician at Will's Eye Hospital and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital to perform this treatment.
What is to follow, is at least 2 more trips to Pennsylvania for the next two months, so that Brantley can receive the needed chemo treatment to shrink the tumor, and multiple other appointments with physicians so that he can be monitored. He will need an MRI every six months and will need to be checked by his ocular oncologist at home, where he will have monthly exams under anesthesia to be sure that the cancer has been taken care of and that it has not returned.
I am starting this go fund me to raise awareness to all parents who have young children so that they can gain a better understanding of what this rare eye cancer is, and to "know the glow." Our pediatrician had never heard of it, so teach your pediatrician what it is. And of course to help with the medical and traveling expenses to follow.
Brantley is my hero, he is the strongest little boy, and I know he'll power through this.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Thank you for all of your help and support.
Julia Millsap
Organizer
Julia Millsap
Organizer
Prague, OK