Neil's Pumpkin

Neil's idea, Mom's execution.  He wanted it to have a craniectomy.  

I think a hungry squirrel got to his eyebrow.  Either that, or it's a scar from his auto accident!

Through a Glass, Darkly

Neil's Summer Beard

Since March of 2009 (two months after the accident) Neil has been wearing some kind of prism lens attached to his glasses.  Because his vision was changing relatively rapidly, the lenses were made of stick-on vinyl with fresnel prism lines running through them.  The eye doctor could easily change them out for a new prescription when needed.  We knew his glasses were an old correction as he had been wearing contacts most recently, but that was the least of our worries.  Correcting the damage to optic nerves and muscles was the more pressing issue.  You can enlarge the picture above by clicking on it and see the prisms.

For the last several months his vision hasn't changed.  As you can imagine, little sticky vinyl pieces can become worn and scratched in a short period of time.  Combine that with the tiny prism lines across his field of vision and you can understand how hard it might be to see much of anything.

A Visit to Dr. Vicci

A couple of weeks ago, at our trip to the eye doctor, the decision was made to get Neil some glasses with the prism ground into the lenses and a correct prescription.  Great news for Neil's current visual problems, but it does mean we accept that his progress has come to a bit of a stand-still.  He'll continue with his exercises, and some time down the road he may have some surgery.  I'm still hoping for improvement without the surgery.  In the mean time...

...he looks good and he can finally see!  It's like a whole new world for him.

When Does He Sleep?

Here's what Eric has been doing almost every day since August 30: 

Summer Band Camp - Photo by Dave Moore
Eric is in the red t-shirt and hat just left of the middle

Band camp lasted for ten hours each day for a week.  After school started they cut back to three hours a day.  

Leaving for a performance - photo by Mom

John Basilone Parade - Photo by Dave Moore

Football Game - Photo by Dave Moore
Eric is playing the baritone to the right of the color guard

BRHS Marching Band - Photo by Dave Moore
Eric is top right, just below the Sousaphone 

Among their many competitions this year, the band will be capping their season with a national championship contest in Indianapolis in November!   Eric loves the band experience, but with Seminary at 6:00 every morning, school by 7:00, practices, football games, competitions, trombone lessons, Scouts, and lots of homework, we don't see him very much.  I'm so proud of him, but I can't wait until November 15th when it's all over...unless the football team makes the play-offs.  Oh boy!