Ye Blind, Behold: Praying for Peter, Continued

Back in July I wrote two blogs about my little grandson and our struggle as a family with his diagnosis of optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH). I wrote of my commitment to pray that God would touch Peter’s optic nerves, go against his DNA and give him the miracle of sight. Many of you responded (with blog comments and through other means). I want to bring you up to date on the continuing story.

Peter was four months old at the time of his first diagnosis. The doctor told us that both optic nerves were “severely underdeveloped,” and that it was doubtful Peter would have any significant degree of sight. We struggled to adjust to the situation, editing our dreams for Peter’s future, even as we began praying for his healing. And we began learning Braille. Hal and I both sensed that our prayers should be bold, but quiet, and that praying for Peter was a long term commitment. We continued to ask God how we should pray and thus partner with him in whatever plan he had for Peter. I also committed to spending one week a month in Kristin’s home, helping with all three children (the oldest, Reilly, is in kindergarten), giving Kristin some discretionary time, and helping to alleviate her feelings of being overwhelmed.

I have loved spending time with Peter, watching him grow and develop. While we notice his impairment, in so many ways he seems like a normal, bright little boy. He is very affectionate, very curious about his world. And, of course, he has no idea he’s got a problem! He certainly doesn’t have an impaired personality or mind.

The story continues. This last February Jon and Kristin took Peter to a specialist in ONH, and this doctor observed that the optic nerves were “slightly smaller than normal” and questioned the previous diagnosis. He made an appointment for both Peter and Reilly with a pediatric ophthalmologist at the Oregon Health and Sciences University eye clinic. I accompanied them to the four-hour exam in March, and the resulting diagnosis is that both boys have a condition called ocular albinism, a definite impairment, but with less drastic consequences than hypoplasia. Moreover, this specialist commented that Peter’s optic nerves appeared “normal.”

It’s a long way from “severely underdeveloped” to “slightly smaller than normal” to “normal.” We wonder what is going on. Kristin’s letter to family and friends expresses it well.

“Someone asked me if I was angry at the first doctor who misdiagnosed Peter back in July last year. I have thought about it and have seen God's hand so much at work that I am only thankful…. He has given us peace and joy with Peter throughout this time. I have wondered if perhaps the first doctor was right and Peter did have ONH with underdeveloped optic nerves. One of the requests that many of you were praying for specifically was development in the optic nerves….Was Peter healed? Or did the first doctor not recognize the signs of albinism? This will be one of the questions I want to ask Jesus when we get to heaven.”

Not knowing the answer keeps us humble, even as it stokes our faith.

Peter is now one year old, a delight to all of us, as well as lots of hard work for his mother. It’s obvious that he sees things up close, but not across a room. We won’t know how much he can—or cannot—see until he’s older and can respond on the vision tests. So we continue praying, with hope and joy.

This is Easter morning, and as I write, I am remembering my favorite verse of the old Charles Wesley hymn, “O for a Thousand Tongues.” It seems an apt way to celebrate the risen Lord.

“Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Savior come;
And leap ye lame for joy!”