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Thankful Thursday, 7/30/09

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with RE/MAX Preferred RS152252A

My younger son Max has a rare eye condition called Familial Exudative Vitreous Retinopathy, or FEVR for short.  It is a condition that has something to do with the blood vessels to the retina and 90 percent of people who have the condition never have any symptoms.   When you do have symptoms, however, there is not much the doctors can do about the vision, their main goal being to save the physical eye itself.  Max has this condition in both eyes, with one eye being symptomatic.  His left eye has very low vision, but he does see something there and has peripheral vision.  I caught this when he was one and unfortunately, he was misdiagnosed for 3 years before the doctors realized what it was.  Thankfully, he has normal, if slightly near sighted, vision in his right eye and his retina specialist says that the only career he can't have with only one eye is an airplane pilot, so we are very thankful for the vision in his good eye.  He also says we have every reason to hope that his good eye will never become symptomatic, so that is what I pray for.  We went for our 6 month checkup as we always do today and I am thankful to report that all is well.  Max has the okay to get a contact lens for his good eye and we are going to that eye doctor on Monday.  I think Max is cute as can be in glasses, but at 13, he would like to start 7th grade without them.  His glasses protect his good eye, so I am somewhat nervous about an accident to his good eye, but as someone told me once, they build ships to sail the oceans, not sit in the shipyard, so I am once again, letting go and letting God, as the saying goes. So easy to say, and so hard to do.

My  20 year old had all 4 impacted wisdom teeth out yesteray and I am thankful he is such a trooper and that his pain is manageable.  Painful, but he is managing it. 

It's a glorious day today and while I would love to be by the pool, I am thankful to be taking buyers out this afternoon, having a settlement tomorrow, and buyers on Saturday and Sunday. 

My best friend had some scary tests done and the outcome was that all is well, so I am exceedingly thankful for that.  We had a lovely couple of days at the beach, just her and I, and it was nice to kick back and relax. 

Life is good.  I have my little blond haired boy JJ, at my feet as I type, the sun is shining, and both my boys are doing well.  I have a wonderful family, my mom, close friends.  What more is there?  Seriously.

JJ, of course!

Carpe Diem!

Posted by

Susan C. Mangigian

re/max preferred
117 Campus Blvd, Suite 155, Newtown Square, PA 19073

610-719-1700 main office, 610-299-6237 cell 

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Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life

Indeed, seize the day!  Patricia is right, the dog is adorable:)

Max is lucky to have such a caring and loving mother.  He is in good hands.

 

Jul 30, 2009 05:09 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Susan, a great story of the delicate nature of life. It can all change in an instant of course and hopefully Max will do well with his eyes into adulthood. A lot of this stuff sometimes can be very scary can't it? I used to have glasses and contacts a big chunk of my life but due to some strange circumstances and surgeries I see fine with nothing now. Life has some unique twists and turns for sure.

Jul 30, 2009 05:59 AM
Richard Iarossi
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Crofton, MD
Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate

Susan,

As parents, we worry about our children more than they do. I'm glad Max is doing well now and pray that he continues to do well throughout his life.

Rich

Jul 30, 2009 06:12 AM
Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

I am thankful for SuzieQ and the fact that I can always get to see a photo of JJ at least 1x/week!  Time for a new ball, I think he popped that one!

Jul 30, 2009 06:24 AM
Fran Gaspari
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

Susan,

I'll stand with you to pray for Max's eyes...!!! Thanks,   Fran

Jul 30, 2009 08:39 AM
Inna Hardison
ha media group - Orlando, FL
Wordpress for Real Estate & Design, Print HaMedia Group

Oh Susan, Carpe Diem indeed...:-) Max will be just fine, he totaly will, dahling. 

PS: I wanna smooch your puppy, right on the nose:-)

Jul 30, 2009 09:09 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Russell, I could start to add my friends here in the rain and it would be an even longer post... you being one of them!

Patricia, he is the cutest thing in the world.  He loves to play soccer with me and I kick a ball, any ball, and he runs ahead of it and turns around and puts his paw on it to stop it!  So cute!

Jason, I am lucky to have two such nice boys.  Max has a heart of gold and although he fights with his brother, he was bending over backwards trying to help him yesterday when we came home from the oral surgeon.  Mike could be nicer to his little brother, but other than that, a great kid... funny, smart, artistic and a momma's boy!  He even wears the t-shirt I bought he that says so!  Max wouldn't be caught dead in his!  And JJ is one cute little boy!

 

 

Jul 30, 2009 10:27 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Gary, life is like that.  Right after I wrote this, I went out to show houses, feeling fit as a fiddle.  I developed a killer sore throat and now can't swallow!  But, Max made marinara sauce for me and we're making penne so his brother can eat it too (still can't open his mouth all the way).

Rich, Max is a man of action and I have to have faith that all will go well for him.  Wonderful kid.  Thanks for the prayers.  xxoo

Robby, JJ did pop it but he loves it so I can't throw it away!

Fran, I would be proud to stand with you in prayer.

Jul 30, 2009 10:29 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Inna!  I know that Max will be fine because that is how it is supposed to be.  Our children have to be fine.  And I just kissed JJ on the nose from my friend Inna! 

Jul 30, 2009 10:30 AM
Don Rogers
Keller Williams Realty Chesterfield - O'Fallon, MO
Realtor, Broker, CDPE, GRI, OnullFallon MO & St Charles County MO homes

Susan,

You also have breath to go along with all of the other wonderful things you mentioned.  Keep being an inspiration.

Jul 30, 2009 11:29 AM
Suzanne McLaughlin
Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN
Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

Susan, Keep the faith. He should be fine.  He has the good sense of his mother and father to get him through.  And, he is a twig on your tree!

Jul 30, 2009 02:19 PM
Caren Wallace
Premier Property Group LLC - Tualatin, OR
Portland Caren Real Estate

Susan, Max is blessed to have a diligent Mother who takes such good care of him! The blessing of eyesight is invaluable and thank heaven that his is safe!

The wisdom teeth are a pain, both of my children went through that in the last couple of years and the pain is awful!

You always have a great attitude and I love to read your news! And of course JJ is precious!

Jul 30, 2009 09:25 PM
Paddy (Patricia) Pizappi
Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty - Pine Bush, NY
Real Estate Associate Broker Hudson Valley NY

Wonderful list.  Great news about Max.  I am thankful for you my friend.  Enjoy your weekend and find some good places for the buyers you are working with.

Jul 30, 2009 10:49 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Susan, Beautiful post. You are blessed with good friends and family.

Jul 30, 2009 11:15 PM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Susan - just another post that I need to make me see that I need to shake this funk, thanks for sharing. Glad to hear that the outlook for Max is good. And you have a great attitude, you have to let him sail.

Jul 31, 2009 12:35 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Susan, I, too  hope Max continues to do well.  I've heard of this condition on a show called "Medical Mystery" and that person was also misdiagnosed over and over again.  Lots of blessings to you and your family!

Jul 31, 2009 01:07 AM
JL Boney, III
Coldwell Banker - Columbia, SC
Columbia, SC Real Estate

My Father has developed an eye condition in the past year that I won't even attempt to spell. I was just a sudden thing that happened, he's never even had to have glasses before.

Jul 31, 2009 08:11 AM
Loreena and Michael Yeo
3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX
Real Estate Agents

Life is in deed good. Best of all, life is awesome when you have friends watching out for you. Thanks for being my friend this weekend. It means so much to me that others who want to tear me down but then, there are those who will build you up.

Aug 03, 2009 02:22 AM
Mara Hawks
First Realty Auburn - Auburn, AL
Inactive-2012 REALTOR - Homes for Sale Auburn Real Estate, AL

Hi Susan, I hope Max will adjust to his glasses quickly, and have a wonderful new school year...give him all of our love and support...Life is GOOD! It's heartwarming to have, in words, little snapshots of your grateful and gentle heart... and I can never picture you without sweet little JJ...xox

Aug 03, 2009 04:00 PM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

It's no wonder that I just adored you from the moment I first read a post you wrote.  I think we are somehow connected in this universe.  My Abi has ambliopia and does not see at all with her right eye.  The doctor told her the very same thing about a career.  I think Max looks great with his glasses too and I know just what you mean about wanting his good eye protected. 

I hope you are feeling all well now.  Don't like you to be sick.

Aug 03, 2009 04:05 PM