1. I was wanting to let Mr. Fisher know that my daughter battled with this same disease. Jenna had it in both eyes & was also diagnosed as a baby(9 mths.) She went through 6 months of cemotherapy and numerous laser surgery attempts before finally losing the battle for 1 of her eyes. She has since lived very healthy for over 6 years cancer free and is a star student. She has decent vision in her remaining eye and does everything any other 7 year old would.

Posted at 1:12PM on May 13th 2007 by Aaron Lottes

2. I was wanting to let Mr. Fisher know that my daughter battled with this same disease. Jenna had it in both eyes & was also diagnosed as a baby(9 mths.) She went through 6 months of cemotherapy and numerous laser surgery attempts before finally losing the battle for 1 of her eyes. She has since lived very healthy for over 6 years cancer free and is a star student. She has decent vision in her remaining eye and does everything any other 7 year old would.

Posted at 12:07PM on May 13th 2007 by Aaron Lottes

3. I just wanted to let Mr. Fisher Know that he can use his celebirty status to get the news out about the " Conquer Childhood Cancer Act".
Please help get this legislation passed. For more information on this go to curesearch.org.
Thank you!!!!!

Posted at 7:49PM on May 13th 2007 by Jim Dever

4. My husband Alex and I are from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and are very supportive fans of Mr. Fisher. May God keep him and his family safe and keep His loving hand of protection around Tatum. It is difficult to have something so intimate and personal in the public eye; however, it can be used to educate the world on the condidtion and other cancer related issues.

God bless.

Posted at 8:45AM on May 14th 2007 by Kishe Denton-Compton

5. What a dad! Visit my blog to see my take on Derek and his daughter. http://mrcsblog111.blogspot.com/

Posted at 2:09PM on May 14th 2007 by Shaun Carey

6. I am writing from Jakarta, Indonesia.My 1 year old baby son has recently being diagnosed of either Retinoblastoma or PHPV (congenital eye disease). Since we have not being provided with a firm diagnosis, we are not able to make any such life decision for my baby.We have tried to search very hard for the right ophtalmologist in state (maybe) who can help us in giving a clearer diagnosis so we would know what we should do for our baby.
We hope anyone out there, who read this, could help us in providing the information as we do not have any resources at the moment.
Thanks.

Posted at 11:17AM on May 18th 2007 by Emilya

7. My very good friend's little girl was diagnosed with retinoblastoma at age 4. They had to remove her eye. She is now a 17 year old junior in high school, a national merit scholar and an accomplished musician who speaks 3 languages fluently. She has been cancer free for many years now. I wish Derek and his family the best.

Posted at 8:23PM on May 27th 2007 by lyndakay

8. Please tell Mr. & Mrs. Derek Fisher that Tatum will be fine in spite of the next few messy weeks. It is hard to go through cancer treatment, harder still for a parent to watch their child be treated. But retinoblastoma is no longer a death threat when caught early.

My sister was 2 years old when she had her first operation. It took 2 years and 4 operations to get her into remission, but the ordeal was successful, and 52 years later, she is a happy, healthy school teacher who reads avidly in spite of having only one functioning eye. She got her first glasses when she became old enough to need reading glasses - long after her hair became gray from teaching hundreds of rambunctious children, and then the children of her former students. Her major complaint is that she is charged the same price as I am by our eye dr, and she only has one eye.

Hang in there. I know it is frightening right now, but Sloan Kettering is one of the best, and has been for over 50 years. Your daughter is in good hands. With the modern treatments your daughter will be well in no time. We shall pray for you all.

Bubbie Allyn

Posted at 11:42AM on Jun 5th 2007 by Allyn Marcovitz

9. My granddaughter has just been diagnosed with retinoblastoma in both eyes. She is 6 months old and will be going to St. Jude hospital for treatment.

Posted at 2:58PM on Jun 15th 2007 by JUDY MARTIN

10. Dear Mr. Fisher, I am a mother of twins. My one daughter had this disease and lost her left eye as well. She is 6 years old now and she was 3 when I seen the white in her eye. My other daughter didn't have the disease. I had wonderful doctors at Columbus children's hospital in Ohio. Dr. Rogers and Dr. Ranilla was wonderful. I am on a fixed income so I don't have the means to travel as you do.. so if it not to much to ask if you find any great eye specialist that make actifical eye please contract me or have someone... I would do anything to make the eye look real for her ..She is having problems with her other classmates because of it. .. but all for that one problem my daughter has been cancer free for three years .. knock on wood...she is doing very well in life and health ways... I hope for the best for your daughter i know how hard it is to have one health twin and one sick one.... sometime as a parent it is hard to choose what one child gets your attention... All i can say is thank god for grandma and grandpa....but as my daughter gets old we have put her into therepy for depth vision and hands on help... but she loves sports and she is wonderful for being 6....thanks so much for sharing your story with all of us.. more information out there on the disease will help save more lives and eye in the future... Thanks again carrie

Posted at 11:05AM on Jul 4th 2007 by carrie johnson

11. Our prayers are with you and your family....my son has gone through a battle with a brain cancer called medulablastoma.. he is cancer free for 2 years. I would suggest you check out the survivir rates at St Judes Chldhood cancer hospital..I can't say enough about them We traveled from Northern California to Memphis TN and it was well worth it..

They are awesome and definately put the care and treatment of the chilf first..

Are prayers are with you and your family at this dificult time

Posted at 8:26AM on Jul 3rd 2007 by george larkin

12. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions on how to contact Derek Fisher, it would be appreciated. Unfortunetly the information he's going to be given about retinoblastoma from the western model of medicine he is pursuing will be completely false. It's really unfortunate because he's going to put his daughter and family through a completely unneccessary and risky ordeal.

Retinoblastoma, as an 'inherited' mutated gene is completely curable through proper diet and knowledge. He's not going to be told this however, and will end up pumping tons of toxins into his childs body out of fear and lack of knowledge.

As a Derek Fisher fan (I'm in Los Angeles), if anyone has contact information, or suggestions about how to contact him, please let me know. Thanks.

Posted at 8:26AM on Jul 3rd 2007 by John

13. My friend's son was diagnosed with retinoblastoma in both eyes when he was about 3 months old. His cancer was hereditary since my friend was diagnosed with it, and lost an eye, when she was about the same age. Although it robbed her of one eye, her son's eyes were both saved thanks a children's cancer hosptial in Minnesota and he has been cancer-free for almost 2 years (he will be 3 years old in August). He is still monitored regularly to ensure that the cancer does not return. My prayers are with you and your family that Tatum will receive treatment and be cancer-free.
Your decision to take time to be with your family is an admirable one.

Posted at 3:39PM on Jul 3rd 2007 by Vonda

14. The name of the hospital little Zack was at is University of Minnesota Fairview Medical Center.

Posted at 1:47PM on Jul 3rd 2007 by Vonda

15. University of Minnesota Fairview Medical Center: http://www.fairview-university.fairview.org/
Tammy Dulian is a cancer survivor and so is her son Zack, who was treated at UM Fairview. Tammy can be contacted at: tammy_j_dulian@uhc.com.

Posted at 1:47PM on Jul 3rd 2007 by Vonda

16. I'm sorry to hear as a Boston Celtics fan about Derek Fisher and his daughter Tatum.I wish all our prayers around the world for Derek and his daughter.I wish them both the best of luck and getting the best treatment possible.It's a hard thing in his career and he's right about family coming first,It's just so unfortunate and unfair to Tatum as a young child.Maybe in the future Derek I hope makes a comeback after everything goes well w/ Tatum.I just want to let Derek and Tatum know,as well his family.My prayers and thoughts are w/ them.I hope everyone can reach out and share messages w/ Derek to let him we know we are all thinking of him.In these harsh times of his career.

-God Bless Derek,Tatum and Fam.

Posted at 11:45PM on Jul 3rd 2007 by Scott Capuano

17. Mr. Fisher you are a man, a real man. You are the perfect role model for all men. God bless you, your daughter and your family.

Posted at 3:56PM on Jul 3rd 2007 by Jeff Trumy

18. I feel for Mr. Fisher's family tragedy. It is a horrible journey when you child is suffering. My son was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma 9 years ago on his 1st birthday. The cancer progressed to the point where the eye could not be saved and was removed. The cancer did not penetrate the optic nerve, so there was no need for chemo. God blessed us with this miracle. The care he received from Dr. Maumenie (Dr. Momma to my then one year old) at the Wilmer Institute in Baltimore was compationate, informative and definitely the best in the world. I don't doubt for one moment that removing his eye wasn't the best decision for my son. Tim Freil in Bethesda created a beautiful prosthetic eye that is natural looking and comfortable for my son to wear. Mr. Freil is personable and freindly with small children, making my son enjoy his appointments with him. My son is a beautiful, active, wonderful, brave and a unique child who has been cancer free for 9 years. I will pray for you Mr. Fisher that God gives you the strength and clear understanding of all the decisons you will need to make affecting your baby daughter. I will be praying for her. God Bless, Sher

Posted at 9:09PM on Jul 9th 2007 by Sher

19. My name it Tom and back in 1969 I was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma back then there were not the options that exist today and the chances of recovery were not as good. Needless to say my eye was removed and I went through both chemo and radiation. I am now 44, there is life after this and my heart and prayers are with the Fisher family.

Posted at 2:49PM on Jul 6th 2007 by Tom Phifer

20. The road does get easier. My baby Hailee was 15 months old when we discovered the white flex in one of her eyes. It was like a nightmare.The pediatrician didn't believe that anything was wrong. Hailee finally went to see a specialist who removed the cancer from her body (eye). Luckily we didn't give Hailee chemo due to the pathology report and lots of caring doctors who wanted to help. She has been cancer-free for 11 years. She is very bright and has a tough attitude. There isn't much she can't do. She has done Relay for Life in Gainesville, Fl(American Cancer Society) for the past 5 years and has already received over $9,000 in donations for cancer. May be that was why she was chosen.

I would like to tell the family to get the book "My Fake Eye" as well as have everyone write in a diary about their feelings. My son was about 6 when we wrote to the bad eye after Hailee's operation. We were thankful that it happened in the eye where we could see it because it would be worse if it was somewhere else in her body.
As long as they stat strong for each other, they will be fine. I hope they watch their other children. The siblings get hit very hard.
Be strong and the baby will make it and be strong too.

Posted at 3:21PM on Jul 9th 2007 by cheryl Blank-Zeichner