And The Verdict Is...

Ryker has Optic Nerve Hypoplasia after all.

It was confirmed today by Dr. Dries, one of the Pediatric Opthamologists at Primary Children's Medical Center.  We're taking him in again Friday morning to get an MRI since there are sometimes brain development issues that accompany ONH.  I'm grateful that we're able to get this done so soon so we can find out whether or not he may have learning disabilities as well as impaired vision.  Dr. Dries said that since he's considered legally blind, we can get financial assistance for whatever he might need.  We'll find out exactly what he might need after the MRI and as time goes by and we discover just how much he does see. 

We're going to get in touch with Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind pretty soon to start the Parent Infant Program.  I'll get more information on it in the near future, but Dr. Dries said they'll have a teacher work with Ryker once a week, pretty much starting as soon as we find out the results of the MRI.  Even if he doesn't have any brain development issues, we'll still get a teacher.  They just like to know if he'll have learning disabilities along with impaired vision. 

He also has to get an exam under Anesthesia next month because Dr. Dries thought he saw a mole in Ryker's left eye, but he wants to make sure that's what it is and if Ryker has anymore.  He didn't really say what that meant if Ryker DOES have a mole in the eye.  I never really thought about eye moles, so I don't know much about the subject, but from what I've gathered Dr. Dries will be making sure that it is just a mole and not Melanoma.  He'd also probably check it from time to time to see whether or not it's changed in size and/or appearance.  So, I'm pretty much assuming that he'd treat it like any other mole.  Ugh...I hope it's not an issue.  That's all I'd need at this point, right?

Holy cow...I've been dealing with a lot in the past year.  I know I'm not letting a lot of these things in, but I'm sure I'll deal with them little by little.  I'm still trying to keep the positive momentum I felt from the other day, and continue to be positive.  Only time will tell what kind of extra care Ryker needs.  He's still my little angel and I'll always love him, do whatever I can for him, and be proud of him.  I'll continue to post more about him and our life together as I get more info.  Thank you, everyone, who has been there for me and Ryker in this past year.  I don't know if I will ever be able to convey how much strength and hope that's given me.  :)