Baby monitors are a godsend for many parents, letting us sneak a peek at our kiddos when they’re napping or playing in their rooms.
They’re all about giving us a bit of peace of mind, making sure our little ones are safe and sound.
But for one mom, this everyday gadget did more than just show her son’s antics; it flagged something that would change their lives.
Little Benny’s playful moments in his crib took an unexpected turn when his mother observed a peculiar anomaly through the baby monitor.
At first, everything seemed to be normal – as he was just wiggling around trying to get a hold of his pacifier.
But then Mom noticed a strange glow in his eye.
There was an undeniable difference between them.
One of Benny’s eyes emitted a bright glow, while the other remained shrouded in darkness.
This stark contrast wasn’t a fleeting occurrence; it persisted regardless of Benny’s movements or positioning.
Concerned by this unusual observation, Benny’s mother promptly sought medical advice.
The initial consultation with their pediatrician led them to an ophthalmologist, a specialist in eye diseases.
It was here that the family received the startling diagnosis: Benny was suffering from retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer.
Retinoblastoma, as described by medical sources, is a cancer that starts in the retina, the very back part of the eye.
It’s the most common type of eye cancer in children.
Although rare, early detection plays a pivotal role in its treatment.
Dr. Eric Hansen, who treated Benny, emphasized the curative potential of this ailment, sharing with Inside Edition Digital that there’s a 95% cure rate if diagnosed early.
Benny’s journey wasn’t devoid of challenges.
Over the course of a year, he underwent rigorous treatment, including chemotherapy.
But with resilience and expert medical care, Benny began to show signs of recovery.
Dr. Hansen of Primary Children’s Hospital in Utah – shared an optimistic update about Benny’s progress, highlighting that he had completed his chemotherapy sessions.
“We’ve still done consolidation, local therapy that would be laser in his case for areas of small recurrence, which is common in kids who have the retinoblastoma gene mutation.”
He continued:
“But he’s doing quite well and has a very good prognosis from both cure as well as kind of having a stable eye exam and keeping the eye and then trying to maximize vision moving forward.”
Dr. Hansen underscored the importance of early screening for retinoblastoma in children.
While regular well-child visits are crucial, many times it’s the keen observation of family members that leads to early detection.
Anomalies like the one observed in Benny’s eye, if noticed, should prompt immediate medical consultation.
What’s particularly intriguing about Benny’s story is the role of technology in early diagnosis.
The baby monitor, a device primarily used for ensuring the safety of children, inadvertently became a tool for early cancer detection.
Dr. Hansen acknowledged the uniqueness of this case, noting that it was the first instance for himself, where a baby monitor played a pivotal role in diagnosing retinoblastoma.
Thank goodness Benny’s mom noticed his glowing eye in the baby monitor, and that he’s on the road to recovery.
Watch the video below to get a closer look at this very interesting story!
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