Abriana “Abbie” Stevens, right, had her right eye removed because it had retinoblastoma, the most common type of eye cancer in children. Now her family, five-year-old sister Allison Stevens, father Daniel Wade, and mother Janie Price, are thankful for those who have helped in her recovery and in covering some of her medical costs. (Photo by Amy Witschey)

Less than two months ago Abriana “Abbie” Stevens’ family doctor, Dr. Douglas Wolfe of Mannington, noticed an unusual glare in her right eye.

He referred the two-and-a-half-year-old girl of Jacksonburg to Dr. Geoffrey E. Bradford, M.D. at the West Virginia University Eye Institute in Morgantown, W.Va. It was there that she had a CT scan, revealing she had retinoblastoma, the most common type of eye cancer in children.

She was further referred to Dr. Arun Singh, M.D. at the Cleveland Clinic. At that facility an ultrasound revealed the cancer had grown, putting pressure on Abbie’s brain. She had lost complete vision in that eye and it had to be removed. That major surgery took place Jan. 22, just 13 days after the initial discovery.

Now, one month later, her parents, Janie Price and Daniel Wade, say Abbie is doing great. “She acts like the old Abbie,” says Price.

As for her prognosis, it looks good. The American Cancer Society says, “Most retinoblastomas are found and treated before they have spread outside the globe.” That is exactly what they believe has happened in Abbie’s case. “They’re pretty sure they got all of it,” her mother said. However, she will always be prone to cancer and must be tested for the disease every three months.

For now Abbie has a clear shield holding the place of her missing right eye, but on March 1 she is to return to Cleveland Clinic to be fitted for a prosthetic eye. It should be inserted about six weeks later. Thanks to modern medicine, it will be attached to her extraocular muscles and will move in sync with her left eye. Also, thanks to Abbie’s age, her eyes are already close to the size of the average adult’s eye, so this should be the only prosthetic eye she will ever need.

While she is covered by insurance, only after the surgery did they find she as not covered for treatment outside of West Virginia. So those costs are obviously now a financial burden on the family.

When Sheriff James Hoskins found out about Abbie’s situation he and Abbie’s aunt, Chrystal Jones of Smithfield, organized a spaghetti dinner benefit at Quinet’s Court Restaurant on Feb. 13. With the help of many others, including several deputies, the event raised approximately $800.

Another benefit is scheduled for Feb. 27 at Bob Evans restaurant in New Martinsville. For all customers that day between 10 a.m. to close who present an informational flier, Bob Evans will donate 15 percent of those sales to Abbie’s cause.

Fliers are available at the Wetzel Chronicle office and at the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Department.