Test Results

We are back from Salt Lake. Yesterday we had a routine exam with the pediatric opthamalogist. This was the first time Abby was old enough to cooperate and "read" and eye chart. The result from this put her vision at 20/400. Legal blindness starts at 20/200 with correction. There is no correction available for her at this time.
This morning they ran an ERG on her while she was sedated. Basically this test measures how the rods and cones respond to electrical stimulus. Her doctor said there was no response in either the rods or the cones. Her technical diagnosis is Cone-Rod-Dystrophy, which means that her cones as well as her rods have little to no function. Obviously b/c she has sight they are functioning to some degree.....its just too small to be measured on their equipment.
Cone-Rod-Dystrophy is a genetic recessive disorder. Clearly Clint and I must both be carriers in order for her to have it. He told us if we ever have more children the likely hood of them having this disorder is greater. Clint told him that he had already taken care of his "rods and cones" so there won't be anymore babies! :)
There is no cure for this, and very little we can do to treat it. We will be getting some amber tinted "sun" glasses to aid with the light blindness, and her school work will need to be magnified. The doctor also feels that the prescription glasses she has been wearing for the past 10 months are doing little to no good and doesn't feel she needs to continue with them. Other than that there isn't much we can do at this point.....
But Pray. And that is what we intend to do. It is nice to finally have some answers after 4 years, but we have been fully aware that only God can change this situation. The doctors can't do much for her, but God is the Great Physician. I fully and totally believe that Abby is/will be healed. I don't know if it will be a one time miraculous event, or if her healing will come gradually over time, but it will come! When the Hillsong song "Healer" came out, I cried every time I heard it. I know there is a lot of controversy about that song, but the message is still the same....He is our Healer....and now more than ever He holds MY world in His hands.
Thank you to everyone who has prayed for us for this trip. She did so well and seemed none worse for the wear. Please continue to pray and believe with us for Abby's complete and total healing!