NewsChannel9 Update: Hope For Blind Chattanooga Toddler in China

Back on January 8th, we spoke with Brittany Maney Vogelmeier.

She wants to give her 18-month-old son Hilton the chance to see.

Hilton has a congenital defect called optic nerve hypoplasia, where the optic nerve is underdeveloped.  The Vogelmeiers are considering surgery in China using umbilical stem cells.

Doctor Jody Abrams says the surgery is "something very new in the world of medicine. It's got to go through a lot of stages in the US. The FDA and other regulatory commissions limit how far you can get without taking certain steps."

Abrams is with the Chattanooga Eye Institute and says the surgery is only in its experimental stages--even in Asia. "It's kind of like a re-wiring job in a house. You have an outlet, wherever the power is coming into the house, and the wire in between has been cut, and now you're trying to re-grow the wire," he says.

That re-wiring, he says, gives no guarantee that it'll work. "It might not grow their vision back. It might get to where they get to see the big 'E' on the chart, which is a dramatic improvement...probably where most of these kids are."

Despite some reservations, Abrams says anyone considering this type of surgery needs to weigh the options and do their research.

"We're talking about a child here who will be completely blind the rest of their lives and you're giving them the chance to have either better vision or possibly even normal vision if it grows back. so, i mean, as a parent thats a chance you have to consider giving your child."

We spoke with Brittany Maney Vogelmeier and she says it's a chance the Vogelmeiers are still willing to take, knowing their son may never completely regain his sight.

"He may still be legally blind, but, you know, for him to just see objects and toys, and to be interested in toys, and want to play with them, and the colors, that's enough for me," she says.

One thing that might be complicating a trip to Asia in the next few months is another child on the way for the Vogelmeiers.

Brittany tells us she's four months pregnant, and won't be able to travel too close to her due date.

In the meantime, she also says so far, they've raised $2,500 of the $60,000 dollars needed for Hilton's trip.

They're also planning a benefit luncheon and a golf tournament in the next few months.