Here is the website for our blog,

stemcellschina.com/blog/hallie/

We've recently had Hallie's last ophthalmologist appointment before we leave.  Hallie sees Dr. King who works closely with the staff at the Anchor Center for Blind Children (Hallie's school).  We even see him AT her school- there is an exam room right next to some of the class rooms.  This is so beneficial b/c the teachers are able to communicate with Dr. King about Hallie's functional vision, as he is able to look at her 'structural' vision.  Dr. King has been following Hallie for about a year now, and his final assumption is that Hallie is "20/ in the thousands."  She does not use her vision functionally in any way.  He has been open to the idea of the stem cell therapy and is anticipating her results- as we all are! 

Yesterday I was sitting in front of a window, with the light shining in behind me.  Hallie was sitting on my lap and as I waved my hand a few inches away from her face, she would turn away from my wave.  This is the first time we have ever noticed her react to something coming at her face.  I kept repeating it.. she was best on her left side and turned away probably 3 times.  We are really trying to get a good baseline pre-stem cell treatment.  We talk to her all the time about what she can see.  She uses her eyes best in extreemely bright settings. We never assume she can't see something and talk to her as if she does see it. 

We go on walks through our neighborhood and "quiz" Hallie along the way.  We'll walk past cars and go very slow and tell her to reach and touch the car that she sees.  Today she was 10 for 10 and reached on the correct side where the car was.  We know that if we move a toy or light in her peripheral she notices... the movement helps her see the object.  So then when SHE moves while sitting in the stroller... it's the same concept.  However it happens, Adam and I walked home from our "Kemp family stroll" giddy with excitement at Hallie's new sight trick!

When Hallie was born, we were told she had no light perception (20/1000). Over the last 2 years, she has learned to use what ever vision she does have. We know she has light perception. She will hold toys up to her face and say "I see lights." Hallie will also watch t.v. by putting her face up to the screen. Although, in everyday life, it doesn't seem like she uses her vision. As she's crawling around, or walking with help, she will bump into objects all the time. When working with her to USE her vision, we notice that it is hard work for her to hold her gaze, but her eyes will focus for a few seconds... this "vision work" tires her out, and ends with her rubbing her eyes and whining. On her own, she's improved her vision thus far. We are hopeful for the help that stem cell therapy will have.