X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

iPhone flash saves baby’s life

3 min read

The flash of a camera saved the life of 4-month-old baby Ryder Temarantz.

Like all new mums, Andrea Temarantz took hundreds of photos of her adorable baby boy, Ryder. Though her little boy, who has Down Syndrome always looked beautiful in his pictures, Andrea couldn’t help but notice a strange white glow in his left eye whenever a flash was used.

She had seen an article 2 years ago about a similar incident, in which the toddler had a similar glow to his eye and it was found out to be cancer. She brought up this issue to the doctor during Ryder’s next check up, and he was diagnosed with retinoblastoma in his left eye.

The diagnose devastated Andrea and her husband, Joey, because Ryder has Down Syndrome and he has an elevated chance of developing leukaemia - which means aggressive chemotherapy comes with added risks.

Early detection is important

Retinoblastoma is a type of cancer that can spread quickly to other parts of the body. 50% of the children diagnosed with the condition usually do not make it.

After seeing a round of specialists, Andrea and Joey were given good news. Ryder was eligible for chemotherapy directed to his eye, and because of the early detection, Ryder has a 99% chance of recovery.

Ryder began his treatment last week, and things have been going great. He is left with another 5 rounds of chemotherapy and doctors believe that he will retain some sight in his left eye. Andrea had told ABC News that despite everything, Ryder is still “active and alert like nothing ever happened to him”.

What is retinoblastoma?

According to Eye Cancer MD, there are two types of retinoblastoma. Familial retinoblastoma is hereditary, is passed from parent to child, and is bilateral (affects both eyes). The second type of retinoblastoma, responsible for 70% of all new cases, is unilateral (only one eye is affected).

Signs and symptoms

The first sign of retinoblastoma that is usually noticed is leukocoria, a whitening of the pupil. The whiteness can be seen under certain lighting conditions. In Ryder’s case, the leukocoria was noticed when his photograph was taken with a camera flash. Instead of a normal red eye that you’d see in a picture, you may notice a white pupil instead - which comes from the white surface of the tumour itself.

READ: Can camera flashes cause blindness in babies?

Source: kidspot
Image source: Andrea Temarantz

What are some of your thoughts on this story? Share with us in the comments below!

Partner Stories
4 Good Toilet Hygiene Habits for Kids to Have Early in Life
4 Good Toilet Hygiene Habits for Kids to Have Early in Life
Flu in Singapore: Is Your Family Protected?
Flu in Singapore: Is Your Family Protected?
6 Top Ways to Prevent Diaper Rash
6 Top Ways to Prevent Diaper Rash
Experiencing Mood Swings, Irregular Periods and Weight Gain Among Other Things? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hormonal Imbalance
Experiencing Mood Swings, Irregular Periods and Weight Gain Among Other Things? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hormonal Imbalance

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Paige Li

  • Home
  • /
  • Health
  • /
  • iPhone flash saves baby’s life
Share:
  • Can A Camera Flash Blind My Baby? Here's What Parents Should Look Out For

    Can A Camera Flash Blind My Baby? Here's What Parents Should Look Out For

  • See Life In a New Light!

    See Life In a New Light!

  • Wife Forgives Husband Who Had Two Affairs And Got A Woman Pregnant

    Wife Forgives Husband Who Had Two Affairs And Got A Woman Pregnant

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

  • Can A Camera Flash Blind My Baby? Here's What Parents Should Look Out For

    Can A Camera Flash Blind My Baby? Here's What Parents Should Look Out For

  • See Life In a New Light!

    See Life In a New Light!

  • Wife Forgives Husband Who Had Two Affairs And Got A Woman Pregnant

    Wife Forgives Husband Who Had Two Affairs And Got A Woman Pregnant

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.