Dear Friends,

I am the Development Director of The EyeCare Foundation, a non-profit organization providing educational information and support services to inviduals and families affected by eye cancer. We want to send positive thoughts to the Fisher family during this difficult time.

We recently published a coloring book for children with RB and their siblings. It also can be used as an educational tool for parents to explain to their children what it means to have RB. Should anyone be interested in obtaining a coloring book please do not hestitate to contact met at 212-832-7297 or hayley@eyecarefoundation.org.

Thank you for your discussion on RB, which is helping raise awareness of the disease and acknowleding the Fisher Family’s experience.

Hayley Maragos

Yes, it was two soap stars – Hunter Tylo’s daughter and Matt Ashford’s daughter. The two girls had the disease right around the same time – I think it’s been close to 10 years ago now.

I knew of a little boy with this disease. His parents noticed there was something wrong when his eye had a wierd reflection on a family photograph. He had his eye removed and now has a glass eye.

My son was diagnosed with bi-lateral retinoblastoma at the age of 3 months. I had mentioned several times to my pediatrician that my babies eyes looked weird to me sometimes. It took me almost two months of noticing that something was wrong before I took my son to Wilmer Eye Center in Baltimore. Whithin two hours our worst fears were confirmed and the tumor had grown so large that his retina was totally detached. The eye was removed. I can’t explain the way I was feeling, I know what Derek and his family are feeling. They are in my prayers.

How terrible this is. My husband and I have followed his career since his days at UALR. We live in the Little Rock area and there has been much talk about their family today. Everyone in Arkansas is praying for his family.

Yes, this is the same disease Hunter Tylo’s younger baby girl had. What a terrible, terrible thing. All blessings to Derek, Candace and the babies.

this is a very sad case. Unfortunately, it usually takes these types of things to happen before people realize the value of their vision and health.

“Patients suffering from this exceedingly rare form of cancer usually present with an eye that reflects light oddly, and a retina that appears to glow.”

The only other point I would make is to say that IF you wait until you or your infant’s pediatrician can see the infant’s eye reflecting light oddly, its a very large tumor already. A much better route is to find an optometrist or ophthalmologist who is comfortable working with infants and small children. They are much better trained at detecting these and other eye health issues. Remember, its never too early for an eye examination. Finding something this late in the game leads to much poorer outcomes than early detection. There are many, many other conditions and diseases which can permanently affect an infants visual development.

School screenings and pediatrician’s eye screenings are not enough. They have their purpose, but your child’s eyes are worth protectiong!!!

We just love Derek and are so proud of him, first as a sweet family man, second , as an incredible ball player.

Our prayers are with his family at this time.

another parent ((hugs and prayers)) to you and your family.

What a terrible decision to have to make! I hope their baby gets better soon and doesn’t suffer too much. My heart breaks every time I think about a baby having to go through a serious disease. I get sad when my son freaks out getting a shot, so I can’t even imagine having to watch my child suffer like that.

My finger and toes will be crossed for them.

Is this the same disease that Hunter Tylo’s daughter has? And there was another person recently whose child had it, I want to say Matthew Ashford, but I didn’t think it was two soap stars.