An Alberta family is warning parents that a simple photograph is all it takes to raise red flags over a rare form of childhood eye cancer as their 10-month-old undergoes chemotherapy treatment for the disease.
The Moreland family is currently in Toronto while their 10-month-old son Carson receives treatment for retinoblastoma at the Hospital for Sick Children.
Carson's father, Sean Moreland, also had retinoblastoma as a child and lost one eye to the disease.
Moreland knew to look for signs of the illness in his two boys, as the disease could be hereditary.
"It's just a matter of taking a picture with a flash," Moreland told CTV Calgary. "If you see that red reflex in one eye and not in the other, or both pupils are milky, just go see your doctor."
Fortunately for Carson, doctors caught the cancer early.
Since Carson’s diagnosis on Nov. 23 he's already had one round of chemotherapy for retinoblastoma in both eyes.
"The benefit is we got him started on chemo really quickly," Moreland said. "When the cells in the tumour are multiplying rapidly, we were informed that chemo is most effective at that point, so we were really privileged we got the diagnosis and got the treatment one after the other."
Doctors are confident they can save Carson's left eye, but warn there's about a 50 per cent chance that he'll lose the right eye.
"His right eye may not get good vision because the tumour is right under the centre of vision right now," Dr. Brenda Gallie of the Hospital for Sick Children said. "However, the tumour just might pull away, giving a little bit of improvement."
Meanwhile, in the Moreland's hometown of High River, Alta., the community is coming together to raise money for the family.
The town's Mayor Craig Snodgrass is encouraging residents to donate to an online fundraising campaign that's already raised more than $11,000.
"The financial component of it is very important, so they can afford to stay out there and get little Carson the right treatment," Snodgrass said.
Carson's mom Candice Black said the outpouring of support has given the family strength.
"It's very easy to feel alone when you get a diagnosis and the next day you're whisked across the country," she said.
With a report from CTV Calgary
