How truly sad that the U.S. is holding innovative treatments such as this back.
By Robin Y. Richardson
Sept. 24, 2016
WASKOM — A leap-of-faith journey to Thailand has turned out to be a blessing for Waskom residents Josh and Laci Yelvington, who took their 3-year-old daughter, Katelyn, for stem cell treatment in hopes that she one day would be able to see.
"We've seen how just one treatment in one month-and-a half of being back home has done for our daughter, and we know that it's going to get better," Josh said.
Born with Septo Optic Dysplasia, a rare congenital malformation syndrome that causes the underdevelopment of the optic nerve, Katelyn — who has a twin sister, Allison — has never been able to see.
"(Before), she did not see light. We thought she had a little bit of light perception, but it was so hit and miss that we didn't know if it was just us hoping or if it was really there because she wasn't always looking towards light," Laci said.
Now, when the parents flash a light at her, she recognizes it.
"Of course we don't tell her, we just have normal conversations, put it up to her and then she immediately (inquires): 'Do you see the light?'; and then she can grab it," Laci shared. "That's the improvement we've seen since we've been back home."
The progress
Katelyn's speech also has improved after the stem cell treatments. And Katelyn has starting to learn her colors.
"Of course, with her being blind, she didn't know colors, so we take these little balls and put a light through it, and that's how we're teaching her about her colors now," Laci said. "So she's just now learning her colors, and she's just now learning how to eat with a spoon and fork really well. So, there's things that are really happening."
On a recent day, her father asked Katelyn to "find the light" as he held up a ball with a green glow. He asked Katelyn what color it was.
"Green," she said.
For the Yelvingtons, Katelyn's response is further proof that the stem cell treatments are working.
"Her left eye is reacting to light, which it didn't before," Josh said. "She had no pupil reaction to light, so it's working."
With the help of family, friends and Waskom Volunteer Fire Department, the Yelvingtons raised the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to fly to the Better Being Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, in July for the process.
Josh, a full-time firefighter in Shreveport and volunteer for Waskom, said he discovered the stem cell treatment while doing some research in his paramedics class.
"The procedure was 16 days. She had a total of six stem cells — three IV stem cell treatments and three spinal injection treatments," he said.
Overcoming obstacles
It's been a little tough for Katelyn to adjust, her parents said, but she wears sunglasses to help with the transition.
"We've been outside before, and she's covered her eyes," Josh said. "She's just not used to it."
And although a bit confused sometimes by the newfound discoveries, Katelyn's been brave through it all, her mother said.
"We just always tried to be her eyes for her, and not that I haven't stopped, I still have, but I think just putting what Mommy's saying and seeing it now, putting two together is starting to confuse her and scare her a little bit, but at the same time, she's been more brave, too," Laci said.
The parents said they are just grateful for the support they've had from the public through this journey.
The parents said a return trip isn't required, but they plan to go back to Thailand for more stem cells, if possible.
"It's best for more improvement," Laci said.
They plan on making the second trip next summer, and are accepting donations on Katelyn's GoFundMe page.
The family made a video diary on Katelyn's Facebook page to share their journey and also chronicle it for Katelyn.
"We wanted to videotape it for her because we have faith she's going to see one day and we want her to be able to see her own journey," Laci said.
Nonprofit aspirations
The experience has inspired the Yelvingtons so much that they hope to start their own nonprofit organization some day to help and act as a support group for others that are interested in stem cell treatment.
"We want to just try to get the word out there," Josh said. "You know America doesn't approve stem cells and we've been told there's no cure in anything."
"There's no compassion," added Laci, sharing how doctors have been telling them all of Katelyn's life that Katelyn will never see and that they should accept that.
She wants to encourage people not to give up.
"Do not let the doctors frustrate you," she said. "Just because a doctor says that he or she is never going to do something, do not give up. My little girl is looking at light now."
Josh said they're fine with Katelyn being blind, if that's her fate, but they're going to at least try to give her the best quality of life possible through the resources available. After Katelyn's finished with her process, they want to help others, through the nonprofit they hope to establish, to be able to have access to the proper resources, too.
"We're going to try to help other families to get over there, to get the word (out)," said Josh. "Not a lot of people know about stem cells and don't know that there's this stuff out there. If you just put your faith in God, I'm sure you'll have a good outcome. We just want to get that word out."
People can keep up with Katelyn's journey on the "Sight for Katelyn" Facebook page.
By Robin Y. Richardson
Sept. 24, 2016
WASKOM — A leap-of-faith journey to Thailand has turned out to be a blessing for Waskom residents Josh and Laci Yelvington, who took their 3-year-old daughter, Katelyn, for stem cell treatment in hopes that she one day would be able to see.
"We've seen how just one treatment in one month-and-a half of being back home has done for our daughter, and we know that it's going to get better," Josh said.
Born with Septo Optic Dysplasia, a rare congenital malformation syndrome that causes the underdevelopment of the optic nerve, Katelyn — who has a twin sister, Allison — has never been able to see.
"(Before), she did not see light. We thought she had a little bit of light perception, but it was so hit and miss that we didn't know if it was just us hoping or if it was really there because she wasn't always looking towards light," Laci said.
Now, when the parents flash a light at her, she recognizes it.
"Of course we don't tell her, we just have normal conversations, put it up to her and then she immediately (inquires): 'Do you see the light?'; and then she can grab it," Laci shared. "That's the improvement we've seen since we've been back home."
The progress
Katelyn's speech also has improved after the stem cell treatments. And Katelyn has starting to learn her colors.
"Of course, with her being blind, she didn't know colors, so we take these little balls and put a light through it, and that's how we're teaching her about her colors now," Laci said. "So she's just now learning her colors, and she's just now learning how to eat with a spoon and fork really well. So, there's things that are really happening."
On a recent day, her father asked Katelyn to "find the light" as he held up a ball with a green glow. He asked Katelyn what color it was.
"Green," she said.
For the Yelvingtons, Katelyn's response is further proof that the stem cell treatments are working.
"Her left eye is reacting to light, which it didn't before," Josh said. "She had no pupil reaction to light, so it's working."
With the help of family, friends and Waskom Volunteer Fire Department, the Yelvingtons raised the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to fly to the Better Being Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, in July for the process.
Josh, a full-time firefighter in Shreveport and volunteer for Waskom, said he discovered the stem cell treatment while doing some research in his paramedics class.
"The procedure was 16 days. She had a total of six stem cells — three IV stem cell treatments and three spinal injection treatments," he said.
Overcoming obstacles
It's been a little tough for Katelyn to adjust, her parents said, but she wears sunglasses to help with the transition.
"We've been outside before, and she's covered her eyes," Josh said. "She's just not used to it."
And although a bit confused sometimes by the newfound discoveries, Katelyn's been brave through it all, her mother said.
"We just always tried to be her eyes for her, and not that I haven't stopped, I still have, but I think just putting what Mommy's saying and seeing it now, putting two together is starting to confuse her and scare her a little bit, but at the same time, she's been more brave, too," Laci said.
The parents said they are just grateful for the support they've had from the public through this journey.
The parents said a return trip isn't required, but they plan to go back to Thailand for more stem cells, if possible.
"It's best for more improvement," Laci said.
They plan on making the second trip next summer, and are accepting donations on Katelyn's GoFundMe page.
The family made a video diary on Katelyn's Facebook page to share their journey and also chronicle it for Katelyn.
"We wanted to videotape it for her because we have faith she's going to see one day and we want her to be able to see her own journey," Laci said.
Nonprofit aspirations
The experience has inspired the Yelvingtons so much that they hope to start their own nonprofit organization some day to help and act as a support group for others that are interested in stem cell treatment.
"We want to just try to get the word out there," Josh said. "You know America doesn't approve stem cells and we've been told there's no cure in anything."
"There's no compassion," added Laci, sharing how doctors have been telling them all of Katelyn's life that Katelyn will never see and that they should accept that.
She wants to encourage people not to give up.
"Do not let the doctors frustrate you," she said. "Just because a doctor says that he or she is never going to do something, do not give up. My little girl is looking at light now."
Josh said they're fine with Katelyn being blind, if that's her fate, but they're going to at least try to give her the best quality of life possible through the resources available. After Katelyn's finished with her process, they want to help others, through the nonprofit they hope to establish, to be able to have access to the proper resources, too.
"We're going to try to help other families to get over there, to get the word (out)," said Josh. "Not a lot of people know about stem cells and don't know that there's this stuff out there. If you just put your faith in God, I'm sure you'll have a good outcome. We just want to get that word out."
People can keep up with Katelyn's journey on the "Sight for Katelyn" Facebook page.