Published December 23, 2007 12:11 am - WEBB CITY, Mo.
Christmas a little brighter for child
By Wally Kennedy
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.”
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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.
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“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.’
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http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_357001135.htmlHere is a picture of her..
http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/images_sizedimage_357001154/xlGlobe/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.