A mum was left terrified after a eye condition caused her to lose her sight when her baby was just three months old.
Deborah Hodgson became concerned after noticing black patches in her vision and pain when she looked to the side. The 35-year-old, from Cullercoats, North Tyneside, discovered she was suffering from swelling which was damaging her optic nerve.
The condition, known as Optic neuritis, caused her to lose her entire sight in one eye and the most of the vision in her other eye. Deborah, who works as a optometrist, started to make preparations in case she went completely blind.
She memorised the faces of her two children Joshua, three, and Ben, one, and attempted to learn the words of Joshua's favourite book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle so she could still read them a bed time story.
Deborah was given doses of steroids which fortunately reduced the inflammation and her vision slowly improved after a week at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle. However she has been told that the condition could return in the future.
Deborah, who is married to electronics engineer Chris Hodgson, 38, said: "I knew that problems with the optic nerve could cause complete blindness. I was preparing for being completely blind, it was absolutely terrifying.
"I have two little boys and I was looking at pictures thinking it's the last time I will see their faces. It was really scary.
"I was in hospital with my three-month-old son at the time. I was still breast feeding him and looking after him. The nurses were absolutely lovely, they helped to look after him and feed him.
"I was on the phone to my mam and dad saying 'Will you come and move in with me and help me?' I'm a Christian and a lot of my family are as well. I had about 200 people praying for me and the whole church.
"I tried to learn the words to The Very Hungry Caterpillar as it was Joshua's favourite book at that time. I knew the first thing he was going to say was 'Can you read me a story?'
"They said sometimes the steroids don't work but often they do. I just feel so fortunate that my vision has come back."
Deborah, who works at Michael Offord Optometrist in Kingston Park, Newcastle, said that she first developed problems with her sight at the end of September last year.
Two days later, she asked her work if she could go in for an eye examination. During the appointment, the mum-of-two discovered that she had swollen optic discs at the back of her eye and went straight to the hospital.
Deborah, who used to work in the emergency eye department at the RVI, said: When you have a bit of knowledge you know the worst case scenario. I immediately thought I had got a brain tumour.
"You don't ever expect, when you look after patients, that you're going to be one of them, it's strange. It's not something you think will happen to you. We just take it for granted that we can see.
"This condition can come back and attack your spine so I'm worrying about that as well.
"I appreciate what I have got and the fact I can read my kids a story. It makes me want to help people and look after their eyes. Some people can have no symptoms so it's important for everyone to have their eyes tested at least every two years."
Deborah has decided to celebrate the one year anniversary of her recovery with a fundraising challenge. She aims to read 365 children's books to her children in one week to raise money for her childhood friend Melanie Hartshorn.
She has already managed to raise more than £800 on her Go Fund Me page. Deborah said: "I'm going to read 365 kids books - one for every day I have been able to read them. I am starting on Monday and I aim to do it in a week. Joshua and Ben enjoy books but they might get a bit fed up. It's going to be a challenge!"
Melanie has a genetic condition called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) which causes her skull to dislocate from her neck and spine. The 33-year-old, from Cramlington, Northumberland, could die if she doesn't manage to raise more than £53,000 in less than two weeks. Her surgery is scheduled to take place on October 4 this year in Barcelona, Spain.
According to the NHS, Optic neuritis (ON) is an attack of inflammation (swelling) of the optic nerve. It can sometimes following on from a viral infection but can also occur with no prior warning or trigger event. It can affect one or both eyes and the symptoms can include pain on moving the eye, blurred vision, loss of colour vision or even complete loss of vision.
Read more:
Care home resident celebrates 100th birthday TWICE due to dad's error on her birth certificate
Statue of football legend Jack Charlton to be unveiled in his home town of Ashington next month
'I was part of history today' - St John Ambulance volunteer was part of Queen's funeral procession
'I will never, ever forget that experience' North East Charity founder attends the Queen's funeral
