Losing sight

Single mom, 22, to undergo surgery to save vision

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By AMANDA KIMBLE || amanda@theflashtoday.com

TheFlashToday.com

STEPHENVILLE (April 21, 2016) – Thursday morning, Amanda Hatley was just hours away from surgery. 

“Placing a (brain) shunt is the is my last hope for saving my vision,” she said from a hospital bed at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple.

The surgery is scheduled for Friday morning.

Amanda, a 22-year-old single mother, began experiencing vision loss in February 2015. Going blind was the next step – another symptom in a progressive, undiagnosed condition that all began with intense headaches.

“It got bad during my senior year (of high school),” she said, adding doctors have said trauma related to physical abuse could be related to the symptoms.

Less than a year after high school, Amanda got pregnant.

“The pain, headaches were terrible throughout my pregnancy,” she said. “I struggled a lot – physically, mentally and emotionally. I went to many doctors for my problems, but no one knew what was wrong.”

One of those doctors assured Amanda pregnancy was her only issue.

Kaylee, a wide-eyed little beauty with a smile stretching from ear to ear, turns three in November. Amanda said labor pains were nothing compared to what she’s continued to experience since giving birth.

Several months after childbirth, in the summer of 2014, a doctor noticed swelling behind Amanda’s optical nerve and thought it was a sign of glaucoma. Those tests would come back negative.

“Not even a year later, in February 2015, I was in a hospital in fear that I was dying,” Amanda said. “I lost my eyesight.”

Amanda was received a spinal tap – and a diagnosis. Pseudotumor cerebri – or intracranial hypertension – is caused by increased pressure inside a patient’s skull without a definitive cause such as brain tumor.

But she hasn’t found relief. In the last year alone, Amanda has had more than nine lumbar punctures – the procedure in which a needle is inserted between two vertebrae in a patient’s back to remove cerebrospinal fluid for testing, also known as a spinal tap.

“I’ve been to the emergency room 12 times in the last year and been admitted for three hospital stays,” Amanda said.

Luckily, Amanda’s treatment took an upturn under the care of an attentive ophthalmologist practices at Stephenville Medical & Surgical Clinic who specializes in neuro-ophthalmology.

“I saw Dr. Trevor Kerr in the emergency room in early March of this year,” Amanda said. “He truly saved my life. He was the first one to believe my symptoms and send me to the doctors I needed. If it wasn’t for him, I have no idea where I’d be.”

The symptoms include intraocular pressure (IOP) more than double the normal range, which is 10-21 mm (millimeters of mercury).

“My pressure was 45,” Amanda said, referring to one ER visit. “I produce so much spinal fluid my body mimics a tumor – the fluid goes into my brain and behind my eyes.”

With that comes intense pressure on Amanda’s brain an optic nerve, causing vision loss and potential blindness. She underwent optic nerve sheath fenestration surgery last month to alleviate some of the pressure on her eyes.

“It didn’t work, and I’m still going blind,” she said. “So, tomorrow I will have brain surgery. Placing a shunt is my last hope of saving my vision.”

Doctors have said if all goes well, Amanda should be able to return home early next week. The purpose of the shunt – a narrow piece of tubing that will be inserted into the fluid-filled area of her brain and passed under her skin and into her belly –  is to help the fluid drain.

“Hopefully, it will stop my vision from deteriorating,” Amanda said, adding recovery is expected to span four to six weeks. “They have told me I will be weak and in a lot of pain some days. I’m scared to death about brain surgery, but this is my last chance at hope.”

Still, Amanda is keeping her mind on what’s important.

amanda and kaylee

“I am just taking one day at a time, so I can get my precious girl back as soon as possible,” she said. “I miss her so much. Kaylee is my biggest motivation. There were nights the pain was so bad I questioned whether I should be here, but then I would see that tiny little girl sleeping next to me with a chocolate-stained face and her shirt on backwards – because she insists on dressing herself – and everything seems worth fighting for.”

For now, rent is paid. Amanda sold her car since she could no longer see or drive – that’s how she has been paying rent. She has had several jobs since moving to Stephenville three years ago, but hospital stays and medical issues have left her unemployed.

Kaylee is staying with a close family friend, Kimberly, for now, but Amanda said she has a long-term plan “just in case.” 

“My cousin and his wife who will take Kaylee if anything happens to me have been amazing,” she said, speaking of a small support group that also includes a few friends and fellow church members. “I have pretty good warriors around me. They want to see me get through this.”

Kimberly Baccus recently established a fundraising page, gofundme.com/69zk62xe, asking for community support and to help with future needs and expenses.

“Amanda is a mom to a precious baby girl, has bills piling up and needs our support,” Kimberly said. “Let us all give Amanda some hope. If you cannot donate, please just share (the link to the GoFundMe page) and continue to pray.” 

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