Dear Friends,
Thank you for following along with Amos and our family’s story. We are thankful for you and the ways you encourage, pray for, and support us in countless ways.
We wanted to give a quick update on a new development. Amos was able to see Dr. Chantal Boisvert, a pediatric neuro-ophthalmologist today. We are thankful to have gotten this appointment in sooner than expected! The main reason we wanted to see this specialist was to discuss Amos being cross-eyed. We’ve heard various things about expected recovery and the possibility of corrective surgery so we are thankful for some answers.
The long and short of it is that Amos has what is called 6th nerve palsy. The 6th nerve is also the optic nerve which can be affected by trauma, tumor, or increased pressure in the brain. The main side effect is that the eyes cross inward because the outer muscles of the eye are weakened. For Amos, his right eye is weaker than his left but both suffer from the condition. The good news is that there are corrective surgeries that can address or partially address the situation. Dr. Boisvert said there is a more basic surgery option as well as a more aggressive option.
Please pray for Will and I as we consider which surgery we think is the best choice for Amos at this time. Please also pray that Amos’ eyes would improve dramatically even in unexpected ways as we look towards a surgery in March.
Visually, Dr. Boisvert was able to say that Amos’ eyes are otherwise fine. However, and this is a big however, the vision in Amos’ right eye has diminished significantly. She explained that when your eyes cross for a prolonged period of time, the brain chooses one eye to use and the other eye begins to “turn off” because it’s not being used. Amos chose to use his left eye so his right eye needs to turn back on. This means “patching” (i.e., wearing an eye-patch) his good eye (left) so that he is forced to use his right eye and thus regain the vision that he’s lost there. As you might imagine, this will not be fun for Amos as his vision is so bad through his right eye. Pray for his endurance. Nevertheless, we are thankful that 2-3 months of hard work on Amos’ part should result in significant or even full recovery of vision in his right eye.
Please pray for us especially over these next few weeks as Amos gets used to wearing a patch. Pray for patience and for a swift and full recovery of sight in his right eye.
Thank you, friends. We are mindful of our own weakness in so many ways as we see Amos work through so much. Praise God for His abundant mercies shown to us through Jesus, the giver of life and the one who promises to make all things new.
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
-Revelation 21:5
In Christ,
Kelli, Will, Amos, and Luke
Amos Ross Updates 
I am so thankful you got in to see the neuro-ophthalmologist! I was praying for that appointment. Her findings seem to be what is expected and yet very encouraging, especially since that eye has only been “shut off” for 6 months or so. Patching should be of great help and I will be praying that it is successful and for improvement to be beyond what surgeons would expect -only to be explained by the Lotd’s hand. Thanks for the update. Stay strong and firm in your faith! We are continuing to pray for you all. Love ya!
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Dear Kelli, Will, Amos, & Lucas,
Thanks for your post, which is indeed a mixture of sad and glad news, and we hope and trust that wearing an eyepatch will strengthen Amos the Pirate’s right eye, and that the pediatric neuro-ophalmologist (can Amos say that three times quickly?) will be both pleased and surprised at his progress, and that the “fix” will go well and very well.
I know that you must wonder at times if this roller-coaster will ever stop. It will. Full stop. May the Lord give you strength day by day to hang on to him, to Amos and Lucas, and to each other in Christ.
Much love from us to you,
fred
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We love Pirate eyes too. Helps in judging strength and dominance for right or left foot gymnastics. Keep up the great work lil’ Amos! May your sailing and boat times be full of adventure! Strength and rest for the captains ;-)!
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Get Amos a Pirates Hat, patch and show him how cool Johnny Dep looks with an eye patch and you got yourself your own little swash buckler! My Mother had to do this and it really does work! Our thoughts are with you and the family.
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We will certainly pray for his eye sight! AND the decisions you need to make.
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It was a gift to see you guys and Amos at church the past couple weeks, and even have him in the kids’ sermon time class today! Keeping you all in prayer as you continue to trust God through it all, and particularly now through the process of working on his eyesight.
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