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Andrew Iwach is my doctor...
My son, Bill (Mason’s Dad) told me about Chris, Mason’s classmate.
I was diagnosed with glaucoma 27 years ago at the age of 38. I was lucky enough to live in the New York metropolitan area from that time until I relocated to San Francisco in 2002. I mention this because I believe I would be without sight if I hadn’t had access to the very best medical men in the field of glaucoma since then. My main doctor and untiring advocate for me was Dr. Max Forbes of Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in NYC. Thanks to him we tried all existing meds, laser surgeries, trabeculectomies in both eyes, shunts in both eyes and since my arrival in San Francisco (2002), thanks to the ceaseless efforts of Dr. Andrew Iwach and his periodic laser strategies I am still a sighted person.
As you well know by now, there’s so much that we don’t know about glaucoma. My case apparently has been very aggressive. Other people, like my Mom, are diagnosed late in life (75), and have been successfully treated with eye drop medications since then. She’ll be 90 in March, 2009 and completely sighted. On the other hand, my doctors have warned me almost since the time of my diagnosis that my siblings, off spring and cousins could run the risk of aggressive glaucoma similar to my own.
So far my only sibling who is 57 is glaucoma free. My son, Bill (my only child), is seen and tested annually or bi-annually by Dr. Iwach, who watches very carefully for any signs of the onset of glaucoma. So far, thank God and Dr. Iwach, he is also glaucoma free.
I don’t know much about Chris, other than he’s that kid playing ball with my grandson Mason, which of course is a blessing in itself. You are right to do all that you can to foster glaucoma research and we as a family want you to know that we will support you in every way. Not knowing any details, I pray for the same thing that I pray for myself for Chris and that is stability with this disease. With a little bit of luck and hard work, maybe by the time Chris graduates from high school there will be treatments in place to regain any eyesight he has lost.
My best to all of you. We’re always here.
Barbara Reilly
San Francisco