Joey’s Message

Saving Vision, Saving Lives
My beloved grandson, Joseph Hollander Bergsma, died needlessly from metastatic retinoblastoma on December 22, 2000. Joey was three years old. Awareness would have saved his life. I was taking pictures of the tumor reflecting the light of the flash and did not know it. These pictures would have saved his vision and his life. More importantly, if an ophthalmoscope would have been used to screen his eyes at his 15 month or 18 month well-baby exam, Joey would be alive.
 
Joey’s journey was short, but his message is powerful. The last year of his life was a miracle. We were at Sloan Kettering in Manhattan for 8 months and the Burzynski Clinic in Houston for 3 months. The last ten days of his life we were at home in Florida. Joey died in his house where he wanted to be. Everyday was a gift and I thought he was to be the first child to survive this disease. Through his death, I realized the miracle was for Joey to be the last child to die needlessly from it.
 
We created this website with the hope you will read it and share it with others. This simple but vital information will empower you with the ability to save the sight and possibly life of a child.  With your help, we will prevent what happened to Joey from happening to other children.
 
Joey is smiling... his message is being heard

Early Detection is the Key

Ryan Mattie William Joshua Lexie Nancy Jennifer Nicholas Joey

Joey was, and continues to be, a gift of light and life to other children.

Introduction...

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The Joey Bergsma Story

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What You Need to Know

Retinoblastoma is the most common eye tumor in children and one of the five most common cancers affecting children overall.  It develops in the retinal cell layer of the child's eye.  One in a every 12,000 children in the United States is affected with retinoblastoma.  Ninety-five percent of the cases occur in the first five years of life.  When detected early the eye and vision can be saved and life is not threatened.  When left untreated, the child's eye is enucleated (removed) in order to save their life.  If retinoblastoma is allowed to escape the eye there is no cure. 

Early detection is vital to saving vision and life. 

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Be alert to your Photos

Early detection is key. A simple photo can reveal important signs, such as a white reflex in a child's eye, which could indicate a tumor or eye disease. Learn more about how to detect the early symptoms of Retinoblastoma through images.

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Ophthalmoscope: The Stethoscope for the Eyes

The ophthalmoscope should be used at every well checkup in a dark room.  It is the standard of care.  Using the opthalmoscope and taking the time to look (about 20 seconds) is essential for detecting eye diseases developing on the back of the eye, which is where retinoblastoma originates. When the ophthalmoscope is used properly it saves sight, eyes and lives at any age. 

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Infant Eye Dilation Exams

Infants pupils are very small in diameter.  In order to see the retina properly they need to be dilated.  Eye dilation is recommended 3 times in the first year of life.  Infant eye exams with dilation are vital for early detection:

  • At Birth (first 2 weeks),
  • 6-8 Weeks
  • 6-9 months

The opthalmoscope should be used in a dark room at every exam.  There is still a 30% chance of detection without dilation.  Watch an eye dilation exam NOW.

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