This is the GUIDE PAGE MAGAZINE on-line text edition for February 2004.

All material property of CWAB, Incorporated. Reproduction of audio, and or printed articles or photos in the original printed issue, may not be reproduced or distributed in whole or in part without prior written consent.

The Guide Page Magazine published monthly by:

(304) 522-6991 - Fax (304) 522-6924

e-mail: cwabadm@cabellwayne.org

Internet: www.cabellwayne.org or www.cwab.org

Paul Slone, Executive Director

Jerry Crabtree, Guide Page Editor

Major funding provided by the Teubert (pronounced Tue-bert) Foundation

Mission and vision statements, Narrator of the Month, From the "Director’s Desk", Leader Dog story, Groundhog Day, President’s Day, Valentine Social, Valentine history, New shuttles, CWAB Seeking funds, Staff updates, Wayne X-Press, Wayne X-Press schedule, Treating R-O-P, R-O-P Q&A , CWAB website, CWAB merchandise, DVS videos, Afghan raffle, Support groups, Bowling scores, Radio outreach, Teubert prep Ice Skating, Recipe of the Month, Valentine food for thought, GUIDE PAGE formats, Scholarship Program, Pancake and Bowling, MU February schedule, Special fundraiser, GUIDE PAGE Supporters, Control your assets.

The February issue of the GUIDE PAGE MAGAZINE has a full-page cover photo of consumer Julie Marshall and her dog guide Mina. The photo was taken at the Services Division main entrance. Marshall is smiling and holding the dog’s harness in her left hand.

Jedd Flowers of Cabell County Schools.

Jedd Flowers is Director of Communications for Cabell County Schools and previously the State Communications Officer for the West Virginia Division of Forestry. Flowers also has worked in the News Department at WSAZ, and did on-air stints at WKEE and WRVC in Huntington. A strong believer in giving back to the community through service, Flowers encourages others to get involved as well.

"It's been a long time since I've done anything like this - but it was fun. Call me anytime," he continued.

If you'd like to contact Flowers, you may call his office by dialing 528-5338, or email: jtflower@access.k12.wv.us.

As January came to a close we found ourselves repairing heating systems, taking down Christmas decorations, cleaning carpets (thanks to Frank Stull for his assistance with the carpet cleaner) - and planning for the future. And what a bright future we do have!

The holiday breakfast held December 19th netted CWAB’s building fund over three-hundred dollars. The money was a combination of breakfast and candy sales. Thanks to everyone who prepared, served, and attended the event.

Speaking of the building fund, new outdoor billboards featuring the architectural rendering of the proposed new building are being developed. Watch for them to appear this Spring.

The annual Volunteer Appreciation event was held in January. Many thanks to all who organized the event to honor the many individuals to gave of their time for our organization.

A theatre group from New York comprised of blind individuals will be performing in our area very soon. This is an exciting opportunity to witness what individuals can do without vision. Details will be available soon.

You all may remember the various surveys that appeared here throughout last year. Final data is being compiled and the results will be available for publication soon. Thanks to everyone for their input on our services.

Don’t forget the Valentine Social Friday, February 13th. It’s one of our biggest events.

Until next month .....

Julie Marshall says new companion already proving to be good asset

By CHRISTINA REDEKOPP - The Herald- Dispatch

WAYNE -- Julie Marshall talks excitedly about when she first met a playful 56.5-pound black lab named Mina that has changed her life.

Julie Marshall, who is blind, recently returned home to Wayne after attending a school in Michigan where she received and trained with her new leader dog Mina.

She recalls waiting at the foot of her bed in October at Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester, Mich. When the now 18-month old dog ran into her room and jumped happily up to her, they connected instantly.

"It was just incredible," the 36-year-old Wayne resident said. "I was so happy to get my dog."

Marshall -- who has retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration and glaucoma -- returned from the school last week after training with the dog for almost a month. Wayne Church of God sponsored her trip.

Marshall was diagnosed with RP when she was 16. She only has peripheral vision and does not have night vision. Her brother, T.D. Childs of Spring Valley, also has the visual impairment, but for him he has tunnel vision, Marshall said. Her brother received a leader dog five years ago.

Leader Dogs for the Blind offers 12 classes a year, according to www.leaderdog.org. About 24 students participate per session in the 25-day course per session.

"I experienced a wonderful atmosphere at Leader Dogs," she said. "People don't really know how you receive these dogs and how they do what they do."

Marshall has been using a cane. The need for a dog came up recently as her eyesight has deteriorated over the past few years.

"They can find objects better than a cane," she said. "With a cane, all you can do is tap a step or a door. I can tell her to find a door, and she will find a door."

Marshall has had some challenges this first week controlling Mina, but she called the school and found out the dog just has to get used to her surroundings, she said. The dog has already proven to be very helpful.

Both Marshall and her husband, Loval, have been pleasantly surprised at what the canine is capable of. When they were at the mall and Marshall instructed Mina to find the ladies restroom, the dog not only found the restroom but guided her owner to a stall for physically handicapped people.

When the couple returned from Michigan and they stopped at a grocery store, Mina guided her toward the milk cooler and dog food aisle and finally the checkout counter.

The new dog has given Loval Marshall some peace of mind. He said he feels his wife is safer having the dog with her at all times.

"I have no night vision at all," Julie Marshall said. "I'm really timid at night. I think she's going to be a good asset once she settles down and gets used to the area. She does like to play."

There is a photo with this article. Julie Marshall is shown sitting while her dog guide Mina is shown on the floor in front of her. The caption reads, "Julie Marshall, who is blind, recently returned home to Wayne after attending a school in Michigan where she received and trained with her new leader dog Mina." Photo by Mike Andrick / The Herald-Dispatch.

The legend of Groundhog Day is based on an old Scottish couplet:

"If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year."

Every February 2, people gather at Gobbler's Knob, a wooded knoll just outside of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Residents contend that the groundhog has never been wrong.

In 1723, the Delaware Indians settled Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania as a campsite halfway between the Allegheny and the Susquehanna Rivers. The town is 90 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, at the intersection of Route 36 and Route 119. The Delawares considered groundhogs as honorable ancestors. According to the original creation beliefs of the Delaware Indians, their forebears began life as animals in "Mother Earth" and emerged centuries later to hunt and live as men.

The name Punxsutawney comes from the Indian name for the location "ponksad-uteney" which means "the town of the sandflies."

The name woodchuck comes from the Indian legend of "Wojak, the groundhog" considered by them to be their ancestral grandfather. When German settlers arrived in the 1700’s, they brought a tradition known as Candlemas Day, which has an early origin in the pagan celebration of Imbolc. It came at the mid-point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Superstition held that if the weather was fair, the second half of Winter would be stormy and cold. For the early Christians in Europe, it was the custom on Candlemas Day for clergy to bless candles and distribute them to the people in the dark of Winter. A lighted candle was placed in each window of the home. The day's weather continued to be important. If the sun came out February 2, halfway between Winter and Spring, it meant six more weeks of wintry weather.

The earliest American reference to Groundhog Day can be found at the Pennsylvania Dutch Folklore Center at Franklin and Marshall College:

February 4, 1841 - from Morgantown, Berks County (Pennsylvania) storekeeper James Morris' diary..."Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate."

The ceremony in Punxsutawney was held in secret until 1966, and only Phil's prediction was revealed to the public. Since then, Phil's fearless forecast has been a national media event.

The groundhog comes out of his electrically heated burrow, looks for his shadow and utters his prediction to a Groundhog Club representative in "groundhogese." The representative then translates the prediction for the general public.

If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, it means six more weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow, it means spring is just around the corner.

Approximately 90% of the time, Phil sees his shadow.

Phil started making predictions in 1887 and has become an American institution.

Between 1927 and 1941 at a cost of $1 million, the nearly 500-foot tall faces of former presidents, Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln were forever etched in American history.

President's Day began with the passage of Public Law 90-363 in 1968. This legislation moved the legal observance of George Washington 's birthday from February 22 to the third Monday in February. Since Washington's birthday fell so soon after Abraham Lincoln's birthday (February 12), many states chose to combine the two events into President's Day. Other states honor all former presidents on this day.

There is a photo with this article. The picture shows the national landmark of Mount Rushmore.

There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine". Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honor St. Valentine.

Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. The date was marked by sending poems and simple gifts such as flowers. There was often a social gathering or a ball.

In the United States, Miss Esther Howland is given credit for sending the first valentine cards. Commercial valentines were introduced in the 1800's and now the date is very commercialized. The town of Loveland, Colorado, does a large post office business around February 14. The spirit of good continues as valentines are sent out with sentimental verses and children exchange valentine cards at school.

Valentine's Day started in the time of the Roman Empire. In ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honor Juno, Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. The following day, began the Feast of Lupercalia.

The lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. However, one of the customs of the young people was name drawing. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl's name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry.

Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius the Cruel was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. He believed that the reason was that Roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. As a result, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. The good Saint Valentine was a priest at Rome in the days of Claudius II. He and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples, and for this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, about the year 270. At that time it was the custom in Rome, a very ancient custom, indeed, to celebrate in the month of February the Lupercalia, feasts in honor of a heathen god. On these occasions, amidst a variety of pagan ceremonies, the names of young women were placed in a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance directed.

The pastors of the early Christian Church in Rome endeavored to do away with the pagan element in these feasts by substituting the names of saints for those of maidens. And as the Lupercalia began about the middle of February, the pastors appear to have chosen Saint Valentine's Day for the celebration of this new feast. So it seems that the custom of young men choosing maidens for valentines, or saints as patrons for the coming year, arose in this way.

Services Division receives new shuttlesOn December 20th, CWAB’s Services Division proudly took possession of three new shuttle busses. The high mileage older busses were replaced through a lease agreement with Penske Trucking Co. of Huntington.

CWAB freely transports consumers throughout Cabell and Wayne County.

There are two photos with this article. The larger photo shows the new vehicle side-view, while the smaller photo shows the front-side wtih passenger entry doors open.

By CHRISTINA REDEKOPP - The Herald-Dispatch

Tuesday, December 23

HUNTINGTON -- The staff and members of Cabell-Wayne Association of the Blind are looking forward to expanding services into a new building.

Already, the ever-growing association has an empty fenced-in lot behind its current building at 38 Washington Ave., as well as architectural drawings by Todd Mitchell of Huntington, and a survey and environmental impact.

The nonprofit organization needs just one thing to proceed with the estimated $1.7 million project: money.

So far, the CWAB has sent out letters of solicitation, requested Community Development Block Grant funds and state funds, and now seeks contributions from individuals and organizations for the center that would have a university feel to it, says Paul Slone, executive director of the CWAB.

With designs for classrooms, a conference room and gymnasium, the facility also would be open for community members to rent and use.

"When you look at the size of this, this building is going to be impressive," Slone said about the building that measures roughly 133-feet by 140-feet. "It’s going to be huge in this neighborhood. It’ll be great for the community and great for us, too."

Some of the consumers of the association are having fund-raisers. Recently, they have sold fudge and had a country breakfast to benefit the building fund. Slone said he wouldn’t mind going the way of the Big Sandy Superstore Arena and some of the buildings at Marshall University where an individual or business has contributed a large amount and the building is named after them.

"I think it’s going to be used by our youth and our people and for education," said Kim Blake, vice president of the association composed of consumers.

The facility would house an adaptive technology training center with residential areas for those participating in short-term training, such as for using or building specialized computer systems, Slone said. Training to professionals working in the field of blindness is offered to teachers from throughout the state and could be expanded on a nationwide basis, Slone said.

A conference center, rental offices for blind-affiliated agencies, a recreational center with classrooms, stage and a recording studio to adapt books to audio tape are also in the plans.

"There’s really a need here," Slone said. "We’re just so limited now in our space. As we identify more kids and adults, we need more space."

Linda Worthy, recreation coordinator, is especially looking forward to the full-sized gym that will be easily accessible and permanent, as well as classrooms for crafts and other activities.

Currently, the association rents gyms and rooms to play goal ball and have dances and parties. For goal ball, which uses a ball with a noise in it and has rules similar to soccer, if they play in a rented gym they have to put down and take up tape and rope that serves as boundaries every time they play.

The CWAB serves about 560 people in Cabell and Wayne counties, Slone said. All services are free. The association offers several programs, including transportation, recreation and social functions, orientation training, eyeglasses program, support groups and adapting items to Braille.

"There’s a lot of people out there we still haven’t contacted," he said. "It’s a constant growth."

Over the years, the association has been able to identify and contact more people who are blind and with visual impairments and an aging population also leads to more people who can use their services, Slone said.

The CWAB receives funding from the Teubert Foundation and state grants. The organization employs 17 people and has dozens of volunteers.

To make a contribution to the CWAB, mail to 38 Washington Ave., Huntington, WV. 25701. All donations are tax-deductible. For more information, call (304) 522-6991.

There is a photo with this article. The photo shows consumer Jack Harless with Linda worthy during a recent Bingo activity. The Caption reads, "Linda Worthy, Recreation Coordinator for the Cabell-Wayne Association of the Blind helps Jack Harless play Bingo Wednesday during a social gathering at the association's current building in Huntington." Photo by Jeff Gentner/The Herald-Dispatch

Recent Services Division staff changes have brought in some new, and some familiar faces. Dianna Ward, formerly Assistant to the Adaptive Technologist, has been appointed Adaptive Technologist. Meanwhile Frank Stull, formerly in transportation, has been moved to the Assistant Technologist position. Frank brings his helpful personality and computer knowledge to the aid of consumers and staff alike.

With Frank’s move out of the transportation driver position, Sheila Burd - formerly with a popular local auto dealership - has joined the Service Division staff. Burd joins Don, Tim, J.R., and Diana Caltrider in the transportation department. Everyone say, "Hi, Sheila!"

There are three photos with this article. The top two shows (left) Adaptive Technologist Dianna Ward and (right) Technologist Frank Stull. The bottom photo is of driver Sheila Burd.

By CHRISTINA REDEKOPP - The Herald-Dispatch

The Wayne X-Press began Monday morning transporting passengers in Ceredo and Kenova who formerly depended on The Transit Authority for work, school, doctors’ appointments and other destinations.

On its first day, at least 13 residents took advantage of the new bus run, and the WCCSO is preparing for more passengers in the future, said Ray Church, transportation director at the Wayne County Community Services Organization, Inc.

"We have been bombarded with telephone calls for riders wanting to know where to pick up schedules," he said. "We’re looking forward to serving these folks. They’re excited they’re not left without transportation, and we are, too."

The public transportation system provided by the WCCSO announced this month it would take over the C-K bus route.

As reported earlier, TTA announced in early November that bus and dial-a-ride service in Ceredo and Kenova would be terminated. TTA cut the C-K bus schedule in half in September, following a notice to the towns that an increase in financial support would be necessary to continue service in 2004.

During the past couple of weeks, the Wayne County Commission and the City of Kenova have agreed to help fund the service, and Rose Meredith, executive director of the WCCSO, plans to meet with the Town of Ceredo at its next meeting to ask them for funding.

Wayne X-Press now has 21 buses that transport Wayne County residents across the county. Five new buses were purchased recently, and one is designated for the new route.

Passengers who take the C-K route will be able to connect with TTA service in Huntington.

The Wayne X-Press also makes pick-ups for people who need nonemergency medical transportation, a service previously provided by TTA’s Dial-A-Ride, according to Tim R. Massey, director of public relations at the WCCSO.

Operated by Wayne County Community Services Organization, Inc.

An important clinical trial, sponsored by the National Eye Institute (NEI), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has provided doctors with improved prognostic indicators and treatment options for retinopathy of prematurity (R-O-P), a blinding disease that affects premature, low birthweight infants. R-O-P spurs the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the back of the eye. These vessels leak fluid and blood and scar the nerve tissue inside the eye, increasing the risk of retinal detachment and severe vision loss in infants.

Because it follows an unpredictable course, R-O-P presents doctors with difficult treatment decisions. In many infants the disease spontaneously regresses and spares vision. However, in some infants R-O-P progresses, resulting in serious visual impairment. Although current therapy can stem its progression, many infants are still blinded by the disease. Due to a lack of clinical criteria to predict which patients will ultimately develop severe vision loss from R-O-P, ophthalmologists were forced previously to defer treatment until it was clearly indicated. Unfortunately, as it turns out, delaying therapy can leave infants who might benefit more from early treatment with poor visual outcomes.

The Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity (E-T-R-O-P) study results, published in the December issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology, demonstrated that premature infants, who are at the highest risk for developing vision loss from R-O-P, will retain better vision when therapy is administered in the early stage of the disease. This treatment approach was found to be better than waiting until R-O-P has reached the traditional treatment threshold. Just as importantly, the study also established the value of an improved risk assessment model to more accurately identify those infants who are at the highest risk for developing severe vision loss from R-O-P.

"Premature, low birthweight infants face a host of medical complications with lifelong consequences. The results of this study allow us to improve treatment for R-O-P and, hopefully, the quality of life for children who most need sight-saving therapy," said Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., director of the NEI.

"This is a great step forward in research to treat blinding eye diseases," said NIH Director Elias Zerhouni, M.D. "The NIH will continue to look for new ways to treat and even prevent R-O-P, which is one of the leading causes of severe vision loss in infants and young children."

Each year R-O-P affects an estimated 14,000–16,000 premature, low birthweight infants in the United States and thousands more worldwide, making it a leading cause of vision loss in children. Of these cases, approximately 1500 infants will develop severe R-O-P that requires treatment. Despite available treatment, about 400–600 infants with R-O-P still become legally blind each year. Researchers have identified birthweight of 2.75 pounds (1250 grams) or less as a major risk factor for developing R-O-P.

The previous standard treatment threshold for R-O-P hinged on the disease having progressed enough that the risk of retinal detachment approached 50 percent. As part of the E-T-R-O-P study, a new computerized risk model, developed by NEI-supported researchers, was used to identify high-risk infants early in the disease. The risk model assessed birthweight, ethnicity, being a single or multiple birth baby, gestational age, ophthalmic exam findings, and whether the infant had been born in a hospital that participated in the study. "This new risk assessment model proved invaluable in the early detection of infants who have a high risk of blindness and may require treatment. It also allowed us to better identify and monitor those patients who are less likely to require treatment," said Robert J. Hardy, Ph.D., the University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston researcher who led the efforts to develop this improved risk model.

Once identified, the infants were then assigned randomly either to treatment at the standard threshold (50 percent chance of retinal detachment) or to early treatment. Researchers found that early treatment significantly reduced the likelihood of poor vision from 19.5 to 14.5 percent at about one year of age. Early treatment also considerably reduced the likelihood of structural damage to the eye from 15.6 to 9.1 percent.

Current treatments for R-O-P involve laser therapy or cryotherapy. Laser therapy uses heat from light energy while cryotherapy uses freezing temperatures to retard blood vessel growth. A consequence of these treatments, known clinically as blood vessel ablation, is a partial loss of peripheral or side vision. Nonetheless, treatment is valuable in preserving the most important part of our sight—the sharp, central vision we need to read, see faces or perform detailed tasks that require hand-eye coordination.

"It is crucial that infants with high-risk R-O-P be identified early and be given timely treatment," said the chair of the study William Good, M.D., of the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute in San Francisco. "Early treatment could save infants from a lifetime of visual impairment. The results also clearly indicate that for certain subgroups of eyes, watchful waiting and not immediate treatment is the best approach."

The study will continue to follow these infants until age six to ensure that the benefits of early treatment persist into childhood. "Because visual acuity continues to develop during infancy and early childhood, the long-term effect of early treatment on visual development is not yet fully known. We expect that the significant benefits to vision found in this study will persist into childhood, but we have to be sure," Dr. Good said.

The study was conducted at 26 participating centers in the U.S.

The National Eye Institute (NEI) conducts and supports research that leads to sight-saving treatments and plays a key role in reducing visual impairment and blindness. The NEI is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

There are three photos with this article.

At RIGHT: A pediatric ophthalmologist uses an indirect ophthalmoscope to examine an infant for signs of retinopathy of prematurity (R-O-P).

Credit: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health

at BOTTOM Left: An artist’s conception of the interior of an infant’s eye shows the formation of an R-O-P ridge.

Credit: Oregon Health Sciences University

at BOTTOM Right: An artist’s conception of the interior of a normally developing premature infant eye.

Credit: Oregon Health Sciences University

The information provided in this Resource Guide was developed by the National Eye Institute to help patients and their families search for general information about early treatment for retinopathy of prematurity study (E-T-R-O-P). An eye care professional who has examined the patient’s eyes and is familiar with his or her medical history is the best person to answer specific questions.

Retinopathy of prematurity (R-O-P) is a potentially blinding eye disorder that primarily affects premature infants weighing about 2.75 pounds (1250 grams) or less that are born before 31 weeks of gestation (A full-term pregnancy has a gestation of 38 - 42 weeks). The smaller a baby is at birth, the more likely that baby is to develop R-O-P. This disorder -which usually develops in both eyes - is one of the most common causes of visual loss in childhood and can lead to lifelong vision impairment and blindness. R-O-P was first diagnosed in 1942.

Today, with advances in neonatal care, smaller and more premature infants are being saved. These infants are at a much higher risk for R-O-P. Not all babies who are premature develop R-O-P. There are approximately 3.9 million infants born in the U.S. each year; of those, about 28,000 weigh 2.75 pounds or less. About 14,000 - 16,000 of these infants are affected by some degree of R-O-P. The disease improves and leaves no permanent damage in milder cases of R-O-P. About 90 percent of all infants with R-O-P are in the milder category and do not need treatment. However, infants with more severe disease can develop impaired vision or even blindness. About 1,100 - 1,500 infants annually develop R-O-P that is severe enough to require medical treatment. About 400 - 600 infants each year in the US become legally blind from R-O-P.

R-O-P occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow and spread throughout the retina, the tissue that lines the back of the eye. These abnormal blood vessels are fragile and can leak, scarring the retina and pulling it out of position. This causes a retinal detachment. Retinal detachment is the main cause of visual impairment and blindness in R-O-P.

Several complex factors may be responsible for the development of R-O-P. The eye starts to develop at about 16 weeks of pregnancy, when the blood vessels of the retina begin to form at the optic nerve in the back of the eye. The blood vessels grow gradually toward the edges of the developing retina, supplying oxygen and nutrients. During the last 12 weeks of a pregnancy, the eye develops rapidly. When a baby is born full-term, the retinal blood vessel growth is mostly complete (The retina usually finishes growing a few weeks to a month after birth). But if a baby is born prematurely, before these blood vessels have reached the edges of the retina, normal vessel growth may stop. The edges of the retina - the peripheryùmay not get enough oxygen and nutrients.

Scientists believe that the periphery of the retina then sends out signals to other areas of the retina for nourishment. As a result, new abnormal vessels begin to grow. These new blood vessels are fragile and weak and can bleed, leading to retinal scarring. When these scars shrink, they pull on the retina, causing it to detach from the back of the eye.

Yes. R-O-P is classified in five stages, ranging from mild (stage I) to severe (stage V):

Stage I - Mildly abnormal blood vessel growth. Many children who develop stage I improve with no treatment and eventually develop normal vision.

The disease resolves on its own without further progression.

Stage II - Moderately abnormal blood vessel growth. Many children who develop stage II improve with no treatment and eventually develop normal vision. The disease resolves on its own without further progression.

Stage III - Severely abnormal blood vessel growth. The abnormal blood vessels grow toward the center of the eye instead of following their normal growth pattern along the surface of the retina. Some infants who develop stage III improve with no treatment and eventually develop normal vision. However, when infants have a certain degree of Stage III and "plus disease" develops, treatment is considered. "Plus disease" means that the blood vessels of the retina have become enlarged and twisted, indicating a worsening of the disease. Treatment at this point has a good chance of preventing retinal detachment.

Stage IV - Partially detached retina. Traction from the scar produced by bleeding, abnormal vessels pulls the retina away from the wall of the eye.

Stage V - Completely detached retina and the end stage of the disease. If the eye is left alone at this stage, the baby can have severe visual impairment and even blindness.

Most babies who develop R-O-P have stages I or II. However, in a small number of babies, R-O-P worsens, sometimes very rapidly. Untreated R-O-P threatens to destroy vision.

The most effective proven treatments for R-O-P are laser therapy or cryotherapy. Laser therapy "burns away" the periphery of the retina, which has no normal blood vessels. With cryotherapy, physicians use an instrument that generates freezing temperatures to briefly touch spots on the surface of the eye that overlie the periphery of the retina. Both laser treatment and cryotherapy destroy the peripheral areas of the retina, slowing or reversing the abnormal growth of blood vessels.

Unfortunately, the treatments also destroy some side vision. This is done to save the most important part of our sight - the sharp, central vision we need for "straight ahead" activities such as reading, sewing, and driving.

Both laser treatments and cryotherapy are performed only on infants with advanced R-O-P, particularly stage III with "plus disease." Both treatments are considered invasive surgeries on the eye, and doctors don’t know the long-term side effects of each.

In the later stages of R-O-P, other treatment options include:

•Scleral buckle. This involves placing a silicone band around the eye and tightening it. This keeps the vitreous gel from pulling on the scar tissue and allows the retina to flatten back down onto the wall of the eye. Infants who have had a sclera buckle need to have the band removed months or years later, since the eye continues to grow; otherwise they will become nearsighted. Sclera buckles are usually performed on infants with stage IV or V.

•Vitrectomy. Vitrectomy involves removing the vitreous and replacing it with a saline solution. After the vitreous has been removed, the scar tissue on the retina can be peeled back or cut away, allowing the retina to relax and lay back down against the eye wall. Vitrectomy is performed only at stage V.

While R-O-P treatment decreases the chances for vision loss, it does not always prevent it. Not all babies respond to R-O-P treatment, and the disease may get worse. If treatment for R-O-P does not work, a retinal detachment may develop. Often, only part of the retina detaches (stage IV). When this happens, no further treatments may be needed, since a partial detachment may remain the same or go away without treatment.

However, in some instances, physicians may recommend treatment to try to prevent further advancement of the retinal detachment (stage V). If the center of the retina or the entire retina detaches, central vision is threatened, and surgery may be recommended to reattach the retina.

In addition to birth weight and how early a baby is born, other factors contributing to the risk of R-O-P include anemia, blood transfusions, respiratory distress, breathing difficulties, and the overall health of the infant.

An R-O-P epidemic occurred in the 1940s and early 1950s when hospital nurseries began using excessively high levels of oxygen in incubators to save the lives of premature infants. During this time, R-O-P was the leading cause of blindness in children in the US. In 1954, scientists funded by the National Institutes of Health determined that the relatively high levels of oxygen routinely given to premature infants at that time were an important risk factor, and that reducing the level of oxygen given to premature babies reduced the incidence of R-O-P. With newer technology and methods to monitor the oxygen levels of infants, oxygen use as a risk factor has diminished in importance.

Although it had been suggested as a factor in the development of R-O-P, researchers supported by the National Eye Institute determined that lighting levels in hospital nurseries has no effect on the development of R-O-P.

Yes. Infants with R-O-P are considered to be at higher risk for developing certain eye problems later in life, such as retinal detachment, myopia (nearsightedness), strabismus (crossed eyes), amblyopia (lazy eye), and glaucoma. In many cases, these eye problems can be treated or controlled.

Cabell-Wayne Association of the Blind offers a website full of information. Links to various other blindness related sites, staff highlights, organizational history, direct to program e-mail access, as well as on-line audio and print editions of the GUIDE PAGE MAGAZINE all can be found at www.cabellwayne.org or

There are four photos with this article each showing a portion of the CWAB website.

These creatures take on a character of their own after careful customization. The "dogs" can be fashioned to represent virtually any sports team color combination! Reserve yours by calling 304-522-6991.

Lt. John Blue's war in West Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley by Dan Oates - Narrated by Dave McLain. Relive the travels of Lt. Blue through the Battle of Gettysburg, to life in four Confederate prisons.

CWAB is offering its March 29, 2001 Gospel Concert on CD or tape.

Featured performances by: Kayla Carter, Kermit Nance, Patty Aldridge, Lisa Blankenship, The Bible Apostolic Church Choir, and Redeemed.

These CWAB produced items make great birthday gifts!

Call 522-6991, to place your order.

CWAB’s DVS (descriptive video service) library has added the following titles:

Finding Nemo, Seabiscuit, Matrix Reloaded, Pirates of the Caribbean, Bruce Almighty

The Services Division offers descriptive videos for consumers’ enjoyment. Titles and categories are varied.

Consumers should remember that NO MORE than three (3) videos should be taken during a seven day span.

No new videos will be allowed to an individual until previous videos are returned. Lost or damaged tapes may need to be replaced at consumers' expense.

A red and white afghan crocheted and donated by consumer Margie Simmons will be given away by drawing during the annual Valentine Social in February.

Tickets are $1 each. Call 522-6991 for details

Rehabilitation teacher Nancy McKenzie is pictured holding the horizontally striped afghan.

Here is an updated list of meeting times for CWAB’s support groups.

Support groups provide a vital link between news, information, social activities, and friendship between individuals with the same interests. Transportation is provided free to any CWAB consumer. Support groups regularly meet in CWAB’s activities room with many taking the opportunity to take special trips to area places of interest. Volunteers are always welcome to assist with arrangements such as snacks, crafts, or being a sighted guide. For information on support groups or volunteering, call the Services Division at 522-6991.

There is a photo with this article. The picture shows a group of CWAB consumers seated around a table as taken during a recent support group meeting.

Bowling is a fun, non-athletic sport. Experience is not necessary to have a good time! Bowlers meet each Monday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m at Colonial Lanes on West Fifth Avenue in Huntington. At least four consumers are needed.

Weekly volunteers are also welcome. For more information, call Linda Worthy at 522-6991.

Some recent consumer HIGH Scores:

CWAB Executive Director, Paul Slone, joins "Tri-State Today" host Geof Sturm each month for discussion, interviews and up-to-date information about services and activities from Cabell-Wayne Association of the Blind.

Tri-State Today can be heard Wednesday evenings at 7:30 on WEMM

In Victorian times lovers declared their affections via words, songs, pictures and foods. One such food was gingerbread "life cakes" in the shape of hearts.

In large bowl, sift together flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt.

Blend together margarine and brown sugar until smooth. Add corn syrup and egg; beat well. Add dry ingredients, about one-third at a time, mixing until smooth after each addition. Chill dough one hour.

Roll out half of dough on lightly floured surface to one-quarter-inch thickness. (Reserve other half for decorations or for a second batch of cookies.) Using heart-shaped cookie cutter, press out cookie shapes or use knife to cut around a pattern. Place hearts on cookie sheet. Decorate as desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes until golden. Remove and place on wire racks to cool. Store in covered container.

Makes about eight 4 1/2 inch cookies.

From: www.techdirect.com .

Used by permission. All Rights Reserved.

The GUIDE PAGE MAGAZINE is your source for information and news from Cabell-Wayne Association of the Blind.

The publication is available free to anyone regardless of visual ability.

Formats include: large print, braille, computer disk, audio tape and audio CD. The audio CD edition is the newest, most convenient and has the best quality.

To receive your FREE copy, please call 522-6991!

There are photo representations of each format included with this article.

Scholarships for the blind and visually impaired are made available through a grant from the Teubert Foundation, a charitable trust whose assistance helps fund the programs of CWAB's Services Division.

These scholarships are open to any resident of Cabell and Wayne County, provided they are at least 18 years of age and meet the criteria for blindness and visual impairment.

Applications are available at the Services Division office at 38 Washington Ave., or by calling 522-6991.

The annual Pancake festival and Consumer vs. Staff bowling tournament will be held Saturday, March 20th at the Veterans Memorial Field House and Colonial Lanes.

Call the Services Division at 522-6991 for details!

Bob Trumbo. These plush Marshall University "Marco" Buffalo dolls are approximately six and twelve inches tall.

The tallest plays the MU theme song.

They will be given away by drawing during the Valentine Social in February.

Tickets are $1 each.

For details, call the Services Division office at 522-6991.

There is a photo with article of the two Buffalo dolls standing side-by-side.

GUIDE PAGE MAGAZINE supporters are important. They provide goods and services, and offer support for this publication in some small way. If, in the course of your day, you patronize one of our sponsors, please tell them you saw their name mentioned in the GUIDE PAGE MAGAZINE, and let them know how much you appreciate their support.

This month’s supporter is:

Call CWAB’s Services Division ofice at 522-6991,

ext. 15 to learn how you can be a supporter of the

GUIDE PAGE MAGAZINE!

Please remember Cabell-Wayne Association of the Blind when you write your will or would like to make other charitable gifts.

Contact Paul Slone, Executive Director at (304) 522-6991.

All donations to CWAB are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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All Rights Reserved