Seeing & Believing

Karis DeLaigle, and her mother, Liz She can't even see her mama's smile.

The small bundle of energy, nearing her ninth month of life, cries for her bottle, not realizing it's closer than she thinks.

The infant's mother, Liz, doesn't miss a beat, cooing as she directs her daughter to the food.

The baby's pink shirt and red hair contrast sweetly against the white blanket as she finishes her meal and wiggles her toes.

"She likes her food," Liz laughs, noting Chicken Noodle among her favorites.

Karis Alyssa DeLaigle makes kissing sounds as Liz begins to tell their story, oblivious to what lies ahead and how a trip to China could open up a whole new world to her.

Liz was the typical firsttime mom.

"I was in the doctor's office every day," she jokes, "but I always told myself, 'She'll get over it.'"

Then Karis's father, Allen, noticed something wasn't right about her eyes.

"They were moving and crossing a lot," Liz says, adding that a visit to the pediatrician led them to an ophthalmologist who delivered grave news.

Through tears Liz describes the moment doctors said Karis wouldn't be able to see.

"We can't do anything ... that's what they told us," she says, wiping her eyes. "They didn't even give us a diagnosis."

Unsatisfied, the couple tried another doctor - but what they learned there was the same, only this time, Karis's condition had a name.

Now, Liz is well-educated in optic nerve hypoplasia, a condition in which the optic nerves fail to develop fully.

"It makes sense now," Liz says, recalling how Karis wouldn't respond or smile back and she's still not crawling or rolling over. "All the normal things babies should do, she's not doing."

As Karis drops her head, shooting her eyes upward as she tries to focus, Liz explains that she has no idea what her daughter can or cannot see. "We think she can see a few inches in front of her, but we won't know until she can tell us herself."

But Liz and Allen don't want to wait that long if there's a solution … if they can give their baby a chance at sight.

And maybe that chance lies in China, where doctors through Beike Biotechnology can provide a stem cell treatment that could very well improve Karis's condition.

"We immediately went to researching," Liz says of the day Karis was diagnosed. "When we discovered the stem cell transplants (which are taken from chord blood) we felt relief … there might be a cure."

Travel and treatment expenses are unknown, but Liz says they are in the process of applying for the procedure and estimates the cost to be somewhere around $75,000.

While doctors say Karis's condition isn't likely to deteriorate, the transplant procedure could lead to an improvement.

"We've talked to different families who have tried the procedure and highly recommend it," Liz says, rubbing Karis's cheek. "It won't heal her one-hundred percent. It either works or it doesn't, but we've got to try."

"She's a wonderful baby for what she's going through," Liz says, running a bright blue stackable star along Karis's palms.

Until a trip to China is possible, she's undergoing early intervention an hour a week and will start physical therapy next week.

"I'm amazed at what she seems to see," Liz says, describing the methods that are used to help Karis improve her depth perception.

As she pushes buttons on her Leap Frog toy, Karis smiles at the lights and music and even reaches out for more of the colorful stars at her mother's urging.

A touch and feel book lies nearby. Not only can Karis learn what animal kisses feel like - the book is complete with Braille.

She won't roll from her back to her belly - she's scared to reach out and brace herself.

"This is terrifying, but we are just taking it one day at a time," Liz says. "When the doctors told me there was nothing they could do, it hit me like a truck, but we have to deal with it and be positive … It's hard to take it in when a doctor tells you your child is going to be blind."

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

CrossRidge Ranch, owned by Brad and Terri Layer of Waynesboro, will sponsor a giant yard sale to help raise money for Karis's treatment. The yard sale, the first in many fund-raising events, will be held at the ranch, located at 784 Porter Carswell Road, on Saturday, Nov. 8, beginning at 8 a.m.

Donations will also be accepted, and the family is currently setting up an account where funds can be sent.