Please login to post a response.

• My daughter wants to be a vet
• Posted: 2008-02-12 21:19:15 By Madison D
• My 12 year old daughter was told 2 years ago she has RP. There has been no change in her vision in the past 2 years. She sees a specialist twice a year and only sees 40 degrees vs the normal 180degrees. She LOVES animals and has always wanted to be a vet. What are her odds that she can be successful for a future vet due to her disease? Anyone else with RP in the medical field? Our family supports her in everything she does. She is a cheerleader,plays soccer, very active in her church and has energy to spare. We noticed a change in her soccer playing over the past year. She seems to be at a loss if she cannot see the ball head on but this has not stopped her love for the game. Thanks for any hope for her love to be with around animals. Madison's mom

• Re: My daughter wants to be a vet
• Posted: 2008-02-13 01:27:55 By Darran Z
• If she's determined to be a Vet then let her. There is atleast one blind doctor out there. One recently graduated at the top of the class a few years back.
  
  Darran

• Re: My daughter wants to be a vet
• Posted: 2008-02-13 10:17:55 By Katie V
• Madison
  
  My daughter Meghan is 12 and was diagnosed with RP 2 years ago as well. She will be 13 in March and she cannot wait. She also has 40 degrees peripheral left. Meghan sings, plays soccer and does very well. We see the specialist in May so we will know then if her vision has changed at all.
  
  I think every child needs to have a goal. Your daughter is young yet. Her vision might change and with that she might pick a different career path. I guess we just have to give them all the support they need.
  
  Goals and dreams are wonderful no matter how old you are.
  
  I have started a private yahoo group called Parents of Children with Rp. It is fantastic. It is private as we talk about our children openly and we share photos etc. Though private we are always looking for new members to join. If you want to join just give me your email address and I will invite you.
  
  Cheers
  
  Katie

• Re: Re: My daughter wants to be a vet
• Posted: 2008-02-13 12:16:20 By Madison D
• Hi and thanks! Yes I would love to sign up to connect with other RP parents. I am handling this better than my husband. We all need to work together to help each other. Thank you for responding and giving me support. Jan

• Re: Re: Re: My daughter wants to be a vet
• Posted: 2008-02-13 13:38:12 By Katie V
• Jan
  I sent you an email. It sure is tough when a young child is diagnosed with RP. I go through really great weeks and months and then wham you have a really bad day. Dads are different they just do not talk as much as moms do.
  
  I am glad to support you. I certainly know how you feel
  
  Katie

• Re: Re: My daughter wants to be a vet
• Posted: 2008-02-13 12:17:00 By Madison D
• Oops.. my e-mail is dingessj@k12tn.net Thanks! Jan

• Re: My daughter wants to be a vet
• Posted: 2008-02-14 19:52:23 By Cristy W
• I believe a person can be anything they want to be if they set their minds to it. My parents always encouraged me to be all I can be even though I was hearing impaired. Also. I have RP and learned of it in my mid 20s, who knows, I may have had it as a kid and doctors didn't know of it back then. I think your child still has the same potentials as a person with no diabilities. It just means he/she will have to work harder at it.

• Re: Re: My daughter wants to be a vet
• Posted: 2008-02-14 21:47:24 By Madison D
• Thanks to all who have responded to my letter. Madison and I have been reading your support and already feel more at ease. It helps to hear from others who have a common bond. Thanks! Please feel free to e-mail or reply through this website. (dingessj@k12tn.net)

• Re: My daughter wants to be a vet
• Posted: 2008-02-15 23:10:49 By Carrie M
• Hi there, I have RP and I also loved playing soccer and field hockey (had to give up both sports sadly a couple years ago) I'm in my late 20s now. But the cool thing about playing sports from a young age is it will give your daughter the muscle memory and foundation she will need for future sports, of which there will be many she can participate in.
  As for animals, I absolutely adore animals too and thought I wanted to be a vet until I realized I was hopeless at math and science. There's lots of animal career options out there, like animal therapy, vet technologists, animal law, etc. Your daughter will be wise enough to figure out what path she wants to take. I'm sure she's already very aware of her limitations. My advice would be- don't add any further limitations by discouraging any of her dreams.

• Re: Re: My daughter wants to be a vet
• Posted: 2008-02-16 18:19:06 By Madison D
• Carrie, Thanks again for your helpful e-mail. Madison has decided not to play soccer this spring. She would be playing with kids much bigger than her. She has really enjoyed cheerleading for the junior high basketball team. One of the neatest things God has done for her, is to give her friends who support her and protect her. Her doctor told her she must wear sunglasses when outside. This can be embarrassing to a pre-teen to be "different". The next day, all of her close friends came to school with sunglasses! Praise the Lord for support. Thanks again, Jan (Madison's mom)