I don't know if anyone else has ever heard of this story but today I was browsing the web site of a local photo studio and came across an amazing story involving a child with eye cancer and a camera.

Maria Pezzente writes:

“A photograph helped diagnose our son, Leo, with an eye cancer. We first
noticed a strange hue over his eye when reviewing photographs we had just taken with
our digital camera. We immediately developed the photographs.


Leo was assessed by several ophthalmologists at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto
and his eye was enucleated within days.


In short, those photographs might very well have saved his life.


Retinoblastoma is a childhood eye cancer typically affecting infants and
children up to 5 years of age. It accounts for approximately 3% of pediatric cancers and
affects 1 in 15,000 live births. It can be inherited or sporadic as in Leo’s case. It is one
of the most malignant forms of cancer spreading quickly to brain through the optic nerve
if left untreated. Parental awareness is essential as this condition often goes
undiagnosed by pediatricians until it is at a more advances stage.


Astonishingly, parents are most often the first to notice signs. The flash of the
camera can make the tumor(s) visible in photographs, appearing as a white hue, rather
than seeing red eye reflex as in a normal healthy eye.


We are hoping you would consider launching an awareness campaign as you
have the unique ability to reach parents.


We hope that something positive can come from Leo’s diagnosis and would most
sincerely appreciate any awareness you would be willing to create.“


Read more about this amazing story here.