subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Thu, Aug 28 2008 

Resources

print this story   Print this story
email this story   E-mail this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Photos


Globe/T. Rob Brown Rylea Barlett gets an up-close view of the lights and ornaments on her family’s Christmas tree. Rylea’s sight was restored after receiving stem-cell transplants in China.

Published December 23, 2007 12:11 am - WEBB CITY, Mo. — Rylea Barlett has had Christmas trees in her home before. But this year is different. Rylea, a totally blind child whose vision was restored by a stem-cell transplant, can do more than feel her tree now. She can see it.


Christmas a little brighter for child



By Wally Kennedy

wkennedy@joplinglobe.com

WEBB CITY, Mo. — Rylea Barlett has had Christmas trees in her home before. But this year is different.

Rylea, a totally blind child whose vision was restored by a stem-cell transplant, can do more than feel her tree now. She can see it.

“She never paid any attention to the trees we have had before,” said her mother, Dawn Barlett. “Now, when she comes home from school, she stands in front of the tree for a couple of hours every night.

“She touches the tree, and is fascinated by the lights and ornaments.”

Her tree has been rigged to turn slowly. Different ornaments and sparkling lights pass by her as the tree turns. She touches the ornaments and describes her favorites.

“This one is a ginger-bread man,” Rylea said last week as she stood close to the tree. “This one is a star. This is one with someone’s picture in it. I like this one of the baby in the moon.”

At this stage in her development, she is not unlike an infant who is seeing for the first time. Only things up close can be visualized.

The 6-year-old girl traveled to China in early July where she received five stem-cells transplants in an experimental study. The stem cells were from umbilical cords. It is not clear yet whether Rylea will eventually develop functional vision. But before the stem cells, she had nothing. She can now see light and make out images.

“We still have a long, long way to go,” said her mother. “But every day we see something new. Her mobility has improved a lot. She’s not bumping into things as much as she used to. There’s something new for her every day.”

Seeing her Christmas tree for the first time isn’t the only recent first for her.

“She went to be fitted for glasses,” her mother said. “When the glasses were on her face, she turned and looked in the mirror. She said, ‘Oh! She is so cute.’

“We had to explain to her she was looking in a mirror and that what she saw was a reflection of herself.”

Rylea got to see her first Christmas tree last week thanks to the efforts of two women who believed that a miracle was possible. Even when she was told time and time again that her daughter’s blindness since birth could never be cured, Dawn Barlett never gave up hope. She sought out and found Kirshner Ross-Vaden, a Chicago nurse who had become an expert on stem-cell transplants.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story





monster
wheels
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Get Our Free Pod Cast!

PDF Bus Routes

PDF Bus Routes

32 buy 1 get 1 free offers


Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!
Featured Jobs

KING PRESS NOW HIRING
KING PRESS NOW HIRING, for the following positions: Set up CNC Machinist; CNC Operator; delivery/pick up driver. Excelle...>MORE

LOCAL DRIVER NEEDED
F F LOCAL DRIVER NEEDED F F, EXCELLENT BENEFITS. Class B CDL with air brakes, heavy lifting required, current physical. ...>MORE

SPECIALIST NEEDED
APPLIANCES, HVAC, Plumbing Repair specialist needed. Call 800-870-0193 or apply online www.samedayservice.com ...>MORE

SALES REPRESENTATIVE
for Nexus, to sell to Joplin and surrounding areas, part-time. e-mail application to sam@probty.com....>MORE

PAPA JOHN'S PIZZA-WEBB CITY
PAPA JOHN’S PIZZA-Webb City, Now hiring management positions. Please submit resume in person at 501 S. Madison, Suite O ...>MORE

COMPASSIONATE PEOPLE NEEDED!
COMPASSIONATE PEOPLE NEEDED! Live In Care-Givers needed to stay in homes. 2-5 days per week. Good pay and insurance.$50...>MORE

OVER-THE-ROAD
Flatbed drivers. Company or owner operators. 866-711-2085....>MORE

OVER THE ROAD DRIVERS
Over the Road Truck Drivers, 2 years experience, home weekly, 620-856-5252....>MORE

WELDER
Needed for manufacturing setting. Must be dependable with some experience preferred, but will train right person. Wages ...>MORE

NOW HIRING KITCHEN STAFF
Now HIRING kitchen staff and PM Server. Apply between 3 p.m.-5 p.m., Big R’s Barbecue, 15th/Michigan...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

1996 MOTOR HOME
National Dolphin motor home, 35’ diesel, automatic, slide out, washer/dryer, central vacuum, extras, very clean, runs ex...>MORE

1999 VOLKSWAGEN BUG
60,000 miles, excellent condition, $7500. (417)623-0997....>MORE

2006 CUSTOM CHOPPER
2006 Custom Chopper, 5 speed Revteck transmission, 90 ci motor, 250 rear tire, 8” stretch in the back bone down and tube...>MORE

DODGE 1999 VAN
DODGE, 1999 VAN, custom made, very good shape color TV/VCR, CD player, back seat turns in to queen size bed, upholstery ...>MORE

OLDSMOBILE 1995 CUTLASS SUPREME
Oldsmobile, 1995 Cutlass Supreme, red, automatic, V6, cold air, cruise, tilt, nice car. $1550. 417-385-7123...>MORE

JEEP 1982 CJ5 WRANGLER
Jeep, 1982 CJ5 Wrangler, power steering, disc brakes, burgundy with factory chrome package. $5000/offer. (417)455-3375...>MORE

2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT
All wheel drive, all options, plus lots of other added extras, 9000 miles, might take trade in. 417-206-4028....>MORE

MITSUBISHI 1995 ECLIPSE
full power, loaded, local owner, sharp, $2950 or best offer. (417)626-7302, after 3 p.m....>MORE

FORD 2004 F350 4X4
ford, 2004 F350 4x4 XLT, crew cab, 8’ bed/bedliner, Reese hitch system, 5th wheel gooseneck equalizer hitch, CD/cassette...>MORE

1991 DODGE PICKUP
Runs okay, good mpg, $350 or best offer. (417)483-8644....>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

RENOVATED HOMES
Nicely renovated homes at attractive prices. Joplin, Galena, Carterville, Carthage. www.Spring-Refab.com 417-781-4600....>MORE

LEASE TO OWN
remodeled 2 BR good location near park and mall, garage, $1000 down, $500/month $55,000. 850-9511....>MORE

BUILDING SITES, 3-4 ACRE LOTS
BUILDING SITES, 3-4 ACRE LOTS, Diamond School, rural water, New Mac electric, some restrictions, no mobile homes. West o...>MORE

2 HOMES-$85,000
Kick me I’m down, come steal my house, 2 homes for $85,000/offer. Will cash flow $1050 per month. (417)799-1442...>MORE

1 BR, NEWLY REMODELED
1 BR, newly remodeled on nice lot, fenced yard with storage shed. 5 miles West from MSSU. $35,000 or partial trade for ...>MORE

1907 VERMONT
RENT TO OWN. 2 br. Central heat/air, $500 month. ZERO DOWN. 417-850-8239, broker/owner....>MORE

COUNTRY SETTING
RENT TO OWN, 3 br, 2 ba, 2-car gar, central heat and air. Country setting, south of Joplin. $775 per month. ZERO DOWN. 4...>MORE

BY OWNER REMODELED
3 BR 11/2BA 1500 sq feet, great kitchen, will consider owner financing, $73,500. (417)850-9511....>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

TREADMILL $75
Treadmill, $75; two desks, small $25, large $75; entertainment center, $20; engine stand $25; air conditioner, 110, $50;...>MORE

AIR CONDITIONERS
Air conditioners 5,200 Btu just $45.99; 6,000 Btu just $58.99; 8,000 Btu Just $74.99; 7,000 Btu portable $89.99; 9,000 B...>MORE

MORKIES
2 males and 3 females, shots/wormed, $200. (417)548-2433....>MORE

MALTESE PUPPIES
Maltese puppies, $650 each, 2 males, cute, ACA, ready at 8 weeks on 9-15-2008. Taking deposits. (417)455-3375...>MORE

GLOCK .40 WITH 3 MAGS
GLOCK .40 with 3 mags and original case, Chinese SKS with soft case and 400 rounds, $450. 417-438-8787....>MORE

14’ RICHLINE
4 h.p. Mercury motor, new motor lift, $500; garden tractor Cub Cadet with 4’ belly mower and snow blade, very good condi...>MORE

PUG, FEMALE
PUG, female, 10 months old, AKC registered, $200. 417-658-9600....>MORE

BABY GRAND PIANO
Sateen ebony finish, original bench. (417)626-8611....>MORE

SNARE DRUM
SNARE DRUM, Ludwig, case, stand, practice pad, $150. (417)439-1997 or (417)623-2997....>MORE

CHIEFS VS. RAMS
3 tickets, 8/28, 3rd row, center field, $250 for all. 417-396-1970...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2008. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

Find A Home Find A Car Find Anything