Bad news (Aidan)

[jenfer]

I am sorry to hear it. I also agree with what Jen said. Please don't blame yourself!

[Daisy and Delilah]

{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}

[Kfamr]

Jaime, my tears are flowing for you - especially after I read what Jen wrote. It is so true. I can't imagine how hurt this makes you feel but, it really cannot be your fault. I am sure you and Josh will raise him to be a gentleman on so many levels.

{{HUGS}} to you.. Your baby boy is just too precious. Has he tried on the gifts I got him yet?

[Karen]

Big hugs to you.

Now, even if he's 100% blind, he can still play catch with Josh! Not with a baseball, but with a ball that makes some noise, jingles or rattles. Still, though, No Playing Ball in the House! Just figger you should establish that rule early!

He can still enjoy a baseball game - by listening to it on the radio, like I did as a child. I have always been awful at sports, so didn't enjoy striking out, or not running fast enough to first base, though I was always the catcher, so I usually caught the ball okay. But I enjoy watching (or listening to people who ARE good at it! He can be 100% blind and still do many, many things. He could be a musician, a composer, a scientist, a teacher, a laborer at many things, a sculptor, a politician or nearly anything else.

Don't be too sad, sweetheart. Even if he just has 20/200 vision in one eye, that's a lot! He'll be able to see colors, which I cannot imagine not knowing about. Even that is an amazing gift we all take for granted.

And he can be the most important thing in the world - a happy little boy. And someday, a happy bigger boy, and some day a happy adult.

He is a sweet, precious being that Josh and you - through much difficulty on your part especially - brought healthily into this world. And he has more aunties here at Pet Talk (and some uncles as well) who already love him, pray for him, and look forward to watching him grow.

Sending you big, bracing hugs. And a shoulder or two to cry on, too, if you want it. My family jokes that we have terry-cloth shoulders - nice and absorbant, okay to cry into.

Kiss Aidan for me, okay? Right on his wee little button nose!

[anna_66]

Karen couldn't be more right Jamie. There's lots of things he WILL be able to do, try to look at it that way.
And please, don't think it was anything you did.

{{{HUGS}}}
Anna

[Lobodeb]

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

I can not even begin to know how you must be feeling. Perhaps you can focus on the things that he can do rather than the things he might not be able to do.

As Jen so eloquently said, there are medical advancements everyday. Nothing is certain. Besides, maybe Aiden would be more of an artistic type than a jock? You never know. Please don't be so hard on yourself.

Prayers on the way to you, Josh and little Aiden.

[caseysmom]

My daughter had a friend when she was younger that was legally blind, you could tell her eyes were both too small. She had a walking stick to help her but I swear it never slowed her down, I am pretty sure she could still see well enough to play, I never had to assist her when she came over. I run into her mom in the supermarket every now and then and her daughter has since had some surgeory that has helped. She is now a teen and giving her mom hell like any other teen

Edit to say...I am really sorry that you and your husband are going through this worrying, there is nothing worse...I never knew what the worry of having kids would be till I had them, get use to it you will worry about 5 million different things through his childhood.

[K9karen]

Gosh, I can't tell you how sad I feel for you. But you need to realize that it wasn't your fault. Sometimes things happen for a reason, though we don't comprehend it. There are so many new medical techniques these days. I have a friend whose child is "legally blind" and you'd never know it. Of course there are things she can't do, but her attitude and widom and insight towards other things draws rings around many fully sighted people.
I have some vision and medical problems that, to the day she died, my mother blamed herself for. Of course that's ridiculous. I told her I "doubled up" on other qualities that other people don't have.
You and Alden are in my prayers. I'm sending lots of hugs your way.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Perhaps you can focus on the things that he can do rather than the things he might not be able to do.

I think this is the most important statement so far! There are many many many blind people in the world that live totally productive happy lives. For some reason it was decided that your family would be dealt this challenge and now it is up to you to overcome it - and I know you will!

Of course, this is all easy for me to say as an outsider and the fact that it's not happening to my baby. I know you will have some rough times as you deal with this, but I believe you will all overcome and will be better people for it.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Please Jaime, do not blame this on yourself.... . Aidan is there now, and I am sure that with all the love and care he will get he will grow into a beautiful and great man8 Hugs to you and your hubby!!

[Sudilar]

Aidan is a precious gift, no matter what physical challenges he may have. He has you to guide him and love him. He is blessed and so are you.
Hugs.

[Cataholic]

Aidan is a precious gift, no matter what physical challenges he may have. He has you to guide him and love him. He is blessed and so are you.
Hugs.

I think this sentiment bears repeating. Keep in mind, we are ALL challenged in some way. Maybe, Aiden's are known right away, where many of us struggle to recognize what are challenges are.

Take it from someone that knows somewhat the meaning of "physically challenged"...life will be what the three of you make it. There is no end to your spirit and courage.

Grieve for a while, but, please adapt, develop a plan, if necessary, so that Aiden never knows for a heartbeat any difference.

love,
Johanna