For Matthew and Josh

Welcome to CaringBridge!
We created this web page to keep our family, friends and co-workers updated on the progression of our boys' retinal eye disease.
As most of you know, Matthew was diagnosed in June 2003 at age 6 with a genetic, hereditary retinal eye disease, known as Stargardts.
There is no cure for this gradual vision degeneration and no treatment available to slow the progression. The effect of the disease is a continuous loss of central vision that rapidly progresses to the 20/200 level – legal blindness.
Matthew’s most recent tests indicated that his vision is 20/200.
Several months later, we had our other two children, Joshua and Emily, tested to determine if they inherited the same two mutations as Matthew.
Sadly, on September 3, 2004, I received the devastating news that our younger son, Josh, also inherited the same two mutated genes, and therefore, he also has Stargardts.
Josh's prognosis is the same as Matthew’s, and we expect him to begin showing signs of the disease in the not too distant future.
Fortunately, our daughter Emily was spared. The tests conclude that she did not inherit either of the two mutations responsible for Stargardts.
Thank you for continuing to support our fundraisers as we fight to save our boys' sight.
Don't forget to sign our guestbook!
Mindy and family


Matthew likes:







Josh likes:









Emily likes:






You are listening to: "Blue Eyes" by Elton John




Here are the lyrics to one of our other favorite songs:



IN YOUR EYES
BY PETER GABRIEL

Accepting all I’ve done and said
I want to stand and stare again
Til there’s nothing left out, oh
It remains there in your eyes
Whatever comes and goes
I will hear your silent call
I will touch this tender wall
Til I know I’m home again
Ooh

In your eyes (in your eyes)
In your eyes (in your eyes)
In your eyes (in your eyes)
In your eyes

Love I get so lost, sometimes
Days pass and this emptiness fills my heart
When I want to run away
I drive off in my car
But whichever way I go
I come back to the place you are

And all my instincts, they return
And the grand facade, so soon will burn
Without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside

In your eyes
The light the heat
In your eyes
I am complete
In your eyes
I see the doorway (in your eyes) to a thousand churches
In your eyes
The resolution (in your eyes) of all the fruitless searches
In your eyes
I see the light and the heat
In your eyes
Oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light
The heat I see in your eyes

In your eyes
In your eyes

Love, I don’t like to see so much pain
So much wasted and this moment keeps slipping away
I get so tired of working so hard for our survival
I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive

And all my instincts, they return
And the grand facade, so soon will burn
Without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside

In your eyes
The light the heat
In your eyes
I am complete
In your eyes
I see the doorway (in your eyes) to a thousand churches
In your eyes
The resolution (in your eyes) of all the fruitless searches
In your eyes
I see the light and the heat
In your eyes
Oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light
The heat I see in your eyes

In your eyes
In your eyes
In your eyes

Accepting all I’ve done and said
I want to stand and stare again
Til there’s nothing left out, oh
It remains there in your eyes
Whatever comes and goes
Oh it’s in your eyes

In your eyes
In your eyes
In your eyes
In your eyes
In your eyes
In your eyes
In your eyes
In your eyes

I want to stand and stare again
Oh, it’s in your eyes.



Here are the lyrics to one of our other favorite songs:


"Silver And Gold"
by Neil Young

Workin' hard every day
Never notice how
the time slips away
People come, seasons go
We got something
that'll never grow old.

I don't care
if the sun don't shine
And the rain keeps pouring
down on me and mine
'Cause our kind of love
never seems to get old
It's better than silver and gold.

I used to have a treasure chest
Got so heavy that I had to rest
I let it slip away from me
Didn't need it anyway
so I let it slip away.

I don't care
if the sun don't shine
And the rain keeps pouring
down on me and mine
'Cause our kind of love
never seems to get old
It's better than silver and gold.

I don't care
if the sun don't shine
And the rain keeps pouring
down on me and mine
'Cause our kind of love
never seems to get old
It's better than silver and gold.

Journal

Tuesday, January 20, 2009 11:17 AM EST

Hi Friends and Family-

Just a quick update, as history is being made with President Obama's inauguration taking place shortly. I've allowed the children to stay home to watch it on television, since they can't see the tv's in school.


Good News and Not So Good News... so what do I share first?

The good news...

Matthew just won the Council for Exceptional Children award for advocacy. He is invited to Seattle, Washington, to attend an awards presentation this April. He will receive a letter from President Obama, along with a trophy designed by a prominent blind sculptor.

Josh is winning all kinds of trophies in his new sport of choice: wrestling. It's a great sport- very disciplined, you don't need good vision, and it allows him to get all his aggression out!

Emily continues to be my pride and joy! She's such a great girl... I have so many wonderful things to share about her and there just isn't enough room on this page.

And now for the bad news...

My father's prostate cancer has returned. He was in remission for the past year but his psa is now back up. More to follow once he meets with the oncologist to hear about his treatment options.

Have a great day!
Mindy and children

Read Journal History

Hospital Information:

At home!

Links:

E-mail Author: Mindy_Lipsey@yahoo.com

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Note: The foregoing information was authored by the patient, parent or guardian, or other parties who are solely responsible for the content. Such announcements or their content are not necessarily endorsed by CaringBridge, Inc. or any sponsoring agent.  This information does not confirm that anyone is or was actually a patient at any facility.