The Scoop on Sarah

So after seeing her (favorite) ophthalmologist this afternoon here is the latest scoop on Sarah:

1.) It has been found that people suffering from Optic Neuritis seem to have flare ups when doing rigorous exercise. (A soccer team with few subs in the summer heat qualifies as rigorous exercise.)
2.) If we would have continued having Sarah go to practices (she has not been to the last 2) she most likely would have needed some sort of steroid intervention to get her flare up to subside. Because we were able to catch her flare up right away and keep her cool, stress free, with lots of sleep the last week or so her body was able to take care of the flare up on its own.
3.) Soccer may not be a sport that she can play for the time being.(Which makes me sad and her sad.) She can have a flare up at any time and because of the nature of soccer (constant running) and the nature of Ohio weather (hot one minute, cold the next, and then hot again) it may not be in her best interest to allow her to continue to play.
4.) Her vision in her right eye is getting better.
5.) Her left eye, as Dr. L told Bob today, is still presenting her with challenges.
6.) Her peripheral vision is poor, but her field of vision is getting better. (Meaning she can see more things in front of her, but not really side to side.)

She goes back in 6 weeks to see Dr. L, and she will be going back to the Cleveland Clinic to see her neurologist in 2 weeks.

This was a great visit. She came home - usually she ends up getting admitted when we go see Dr. L. We, as a family, were able to manage her symptoms - I am certain that had we taken her to the hospital last week (when things were really bad and scary) she would have been admitted because of the condition she was in. It gives me hope that there ARE things that we can do to help Sarah. It gives me hope that this disease is not going to constantly take over our lives. It gives me hope that we may be able to form some sort of normal for our family that does not always involve living in crisis mode. Hope.... I love that word.

There are some who believe that with God all things are possible. As for me, I believe that with HOPE all things are possible.