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Mom's Vision Vanishes Weeks After Adopting Daughters
13 Sep
Summary
- A new mother's sight rapidly declined weeks after adopting two girls.
- Graves' disease and Thyroid Eye Disease caused severe vision loss.
- Multiple treatments, including surgery and new medication, were required.
A woman from Toledo, Ohio, experienced a severe health crisis just weeks after a joyous adoption. Debby Erney and her husband Bob adopted two sisters in 2001, a moment she described as deeply significant. However, shortly after, Erney awoke to find her face dramatically swollen and her eyes bulging, leading to a rapid decline in vision.
Doctors diagnosed Erney with Graves' disease, an autoimmune condition causing an overactive thyroid. This led to Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), a rare complication affecting about one-third of Graves' patients. Her condition quickly worsened, impacting her ability to work and drive, forcing her to rely on her family.
Over the years, Erney pursued various treatments for TED, including surgeries and medication. The disease flared up again in 2023, requiring more intensive care. This included radiation, steroids, and the newer intravenous medication teprotumumab (Tepezza), approved in 2020.
Despite the ongoing challenges and the emotional isolation TED can cause, Erney reflects positively on her journey. She expresses no regrets, cherishing the experiences she shared with her now-grown daughters and finding fulfillment in their well-being and her new role as a grandmother.
