Dear Ruth,

Tears filled my eyes as I read your reply:) PLEASE, don't be so hard
on yourself! As my 10 year old says (everytime I apologize to her:)
"Mom, you didn't know. When you did, you were there for me!" You're
there for Zoe as she begins this journey. And, it will bring you
closer together:)! For us, it is a blessing in disguise:)

We, ourselves, just returned from an appointment with our
diagnostician in Minneapolis. As I mentioned before, Maddie is
beginning to go through puberty. With that, her body chemistry is
changing and, therefore, her brain chemistry is changing. This caused
her color needs to change. Judy Palapala (our diagnostician) spent a
great deal of time with Maddie; even taking us to a local gymnasium
(Maddie is VERY active in sports) to diagnose her under the brutal
mercury lights. Previous to our visit last weekend, Maddie's brain
couldn't perceive the lines on the basketball court or the numbers on
the other players' jerseys. Judy worked with her and, now, the lines
and numbers and other details are perceivable to Maddie's brain:)
There are still details in textbooks that Maddie's brain doesn't pick
up and we're investigating low-vision tools and an
ophthalmic-neurologist to help her.

That being said, we've discovered that Maddie is an extreme case with
the potential to change again. We've talked with Maddie about her
need to continually protect herself. She must wear her Irlen lenses
all of the time. She really should wear a cap/visor with a dark
underbrim most of the time; particularly when she is exposed to
flourescent, mercury or halogan lights. It's somewhat like someone
who is VERY sensitive to the sun. That person should avoid the direct
sun whenever possible. When they must be in the sun, they use all
measures and tools to minimize their exposure:) And when that doesn't
help, get out of the sun (or leave the area with the offending lights!:)

Let us know (if you'd like) how your appointment goes. We're here to
support you and, even if you'd like, Maddie is willing to "converse"
with Zoe to be a friend through this:)

Best of Luck! And, remember, be nice to yourself:)! You're a GREAT MOM:)
Jenny C.

--- In glimmercoloredfilterglasses@yahoogroups.com, "ruth_mnsfld"
<ruth_mnsfld@...> wrote:
>
> Thank you for you kind messages Jenny & Tim.
> My daughter Zoe (11) has always had trouble at school right from an
> early age. I have battled with the schools to get Zoe tested, as far
> as they wher concerned she was just a lazy student but soon realized i
> had been right all along. It has only been recently since she started
> secondry school that things have moved on. Her SENCO at school
> contacted me asking if they could do the first part of the Irlen test,
> as they are worried about her.
> I went along and found out how bad things really where for her ( as
> her mum i feel as i've let her down). Like when she crosses the road
> she panics, it never occurred to me that she could not see the cars or
> even judge the distance.
> Her appointment is tomorrow at 1pm (uk) and zoe is looking forward to
> it, as she said to me that maybe she can be a Normal Kid.
> Will keep you posted
>
> Many thanks
>
> Ruth
>