About Colton

Colton was born at 24 weeks gestation. He weighed just 1 pound 4 ounces. After Holly's water broke, a nurse came into her room to inform her that this baby was much to small to be viable and would most likely have bleeding on the brain thus causing brain damage. The nurse then gave her an option of c-section with a 3% survival rate or natural vaginal birth with a 1% survival rate either way she said that this baby had a 98% chance for some sort of bleeding on his/ her brain. Holly and Colton's daddy decided to let "God make the decision" and decided to go with the natural birth.















Colton is a miracle as is every baby; however, for him to survive and without brain damage is a miracle all in itself. Colton was in Meriter's NICU for three months and on an oxygen ventilator for 13 of those days. The amount of oxygen that was needed to save his life also detached his eye retinas (Retinopathy of Prematurity-stage 5 retinal detachment) thus causing him total blindness in one eye and severe eye damage in his other. Although his vision is currently 5/2500, he amazingly rides a bike as seen in our book, bowls, and does everything except drive a car; however, he does drive a four wheeler.

Colton's family has been traveling to Detroit, MI to see an eye surgeon that specializes in Retinopathy of Prematurity since his birth in 1995. Dr. Trese has recently told Colton and his family that he is most likely a very good candidate for the invention of a microchip; which will allow Colton see his own reflection, and his family and friends for the very first time. This surgery is very costly and uncovered by health insurance, so Holly has written a children's book to raise money for this surgery.
For information on "My Pretend Book", please read below our "Huge Thank You" portion of this blog.

Artificial Vision: Article from ROPARD

For many years, several investigators have been working on techniques that use
sophisticated information technology, such as microchip technology, to create a visual
precept for people who have been blinded specifically by retinitis pigmentosa. Commonly
in retinitis pigmentosa, the outer retina does not function, but the inner retina does.
This feature is also common to other forms of retinal disease, such as retinopathy of
prematurity, familial exudative vitreoretinopathy, retinoschisis, congenital retinoschisis,
macular degeneration, and other forms of retinal dystrophies. To generate such a visual
precept, a small camera is connected to a microchip device implanted on the front aspect
of the retina. The microchip stimulates the inner retina with a small electrical impulse that
sends a patterned message to the brain. The brain interprets the impulse as the object
viewed by the camera.

Colton selling his book at the Monona Farmer's Market

Colton selling his book at the Monona Farmer's Market
Book sale & signing (in Braille) at The Monona Farmer's Market

A Huge "Thank You" for Purchasing our Book!

  • Brenna and Hudson from Auntie Aimee: 1 Book
  • Tanner and Brock from Mom Aimee: 1 Book
  • Sophie from Aunt Katy: 1 Book
  • Sophia, Lily and Xavier Long: 1 Book
  • Casey Kleven: 1 Book
  • Sunny Rae from Mom: 1 Book
  • Aliza Kaiser: 1 Book
  • George Ketterer: 1 Book
  • Grandma Ne-Ne for Liam: 1 Book
  • Elena and Jon: 1 Book
  • Lori Ruosch: 1 Book
  • Judy Fritz for Chase: 4 Books
  • Mary Keyes: 1 Book
  • Joyce Ament: 2 Books
  • A Powell for Ethan: 1 Book
  • Carol K "Joy": 1 Book
  • Martha C "Flo": 1 Book
  • John Ehrlinger for Miles: 1 Book
  • Carol Kroll for Kaden: 1 Book
  • Sarah Payton for Rylee and A.J.- 1 Book
  • Kathy Easland: 4 Books
  • Shelley A. Day: 1 Book & Cash donation
  • Laura Clark-Taylor: 1 Book & Large cash donation
  • Michelle Swiggum: 1 Book
  • Kim Robinson: 1 Book
  • Evelynn Otterson: 1 Book
  • Jeanne Edmunds for Evelyn: 1 Book
  • Laurie Black for Bella and Maddie: 1 Book
  • Christa Sweeney: 2 Books
  • Jo Hanson: 1 Book for $10
  • Kelsey Marano: 1 Book for $10
  • Anonymous Sponsor for Lioness Craft Fair at the Monona Chili Festival: $20
  • Morgan Stevens: I Book
  • Karen Steffen: 2 Books
  • Cynthia Praegus: cash donation (sorry if I misspelled your name-I couldn't read it:)
  • Rahim Steffen: 1 Book
  • Dan Furniss: Cash donation
  • Carson Konop: 1 Book
  • Colemen and Rhys: 1 Book and cash donation
  • Jackson Kowalski: 1 Book and cash donation
  • Maja Irwin: 1 Book
  • Maggie: 1 Book
  • Anthony DeShone and Katrina Lynette Moss: 1 Book
  • Preston Doll and Morgan Beck: 2 Books
  • Julie and Brook Slinde: cash donation
  • Roylene: 1 Book
  • Sydney: 1 Book
  • Crossen Family: 1 Book and cash donation
  • Orion Powers: 1 Book and cash donation
  • Riley Miller: 1 Book
  • Sadie Holz: 1 Book
  • Rita Busch: 1 Book
  • Dan and Doris Pulvermacher: 1 Book
  • Lisa Ottosson from Australia: 1 book
  • Sandra Zweifel: Referral & hard work with Monona Lioness Club
  • Madison Monona Lioness Club: 10 books and cash donation
  • Sandy Kreul: For referring Ron Edmunds
  • Ron Edmunds: 1 Book
  • Shirley Buntin: For referring Sandra Parr
  • Sandra Parr: 5 Books
  • Joe and Diane Hetzel: 1 Book
  • Tom and Ruth Anderson: 1 Book & cash donation
  • Janice and Les Delo (Margaret's aunt & uncle): 14 Books (10 books donated to WI School for the Blind and Visually Impaired students)
  • Mary Possin & Monona Motors: 10 Books & Large cash donation
  • Judy Compton: 30 Books!!
  • Douglas Wood: 1 Book for Susan and for putting our information on his blog. http://mononadoug.blogspot.com/
  • Jamie Hersch: Reporter at WKOW 27 News for doing an exceptional story about Colton's book sale at the Monona Farmer's Market
  • Adam Mella: Managing Editor at The Herald-Independent Newspaper for a wonderful write up regarding Colton's Monona Farmer's Market book sale.
  • Sam (Colton's brother): For helping at the Farmer's Market
  • Justin (Colton's brother): for writing buyer's names & purchase at Farmer's Market
  • Colton, Cooper and Cody Measuder: 1 Book
  • Marguerite Scovel: 1 Book
  • Jill Palmer: 1 Book
  • Sackett family: 1 Book & cash donation
  • Naomi Matthees: 1 Book
  • Jake and Brooke's Grandma Buntin: 1 Book
  • Maren and Terry Tiffany: 2 Books
  • Aparna: 1 Book and for adding our information to her blog http://annarasaessenceoffood.blogspot.com/2010/05/gift-beautiful-red-tulip-and-eyesight.html
  • Ramos: cash donation
  • Grandpa Glenn II: 1 Book
  • Grandma Karen: 2 Books and cash donation
  • Great Grandpa Glenn I and Grandma Sally: Large cash donation
  • Bill Leanderts: cash donation
  • Aunt Tina Clark: Large cash donation
  • Anne McCann: 2 Books and cash donation
  • Cliff and Sally Borden: 1 Book
  • Martha Reyes (Angie Bartley family): 2 Books
  • Judy Breunig: 3 Books
  • "Uncle Brad" Breunig: 1 Book
  • Tom and Judy Davis: 1 Book
  • Kathy Pahl: 1 Book and Large cash donation
  • Gene Hume: Large cash donation
  • Mary McWilliams: Large cash donation
  • Audrey and Owen Garrett: 2 Books
  • Roger Hauge: Large cash donation
  • Nick Elmquist: Large cash donation
  • Jacob Karns: 1 Book
  • Beth Fleming: 1 Book
  • Mary and Dan Chitek: 1 Book
  • Deb Koch: cash donation
  • Noel Workman: 1 Book & cash donation
  • Pauleen, Tyler & Maren: 1 Book
  • Bob and Sharon Miller Family: 7 Books
  • Mary Ziech: 20 Books for students of a wonderful teacher that is retiring "Mrs. Berg". Thank you, Mrs. Berg!
  • Kay and Mike Holt: 1 Book
  • Kelly Holt for Madyson: 1 Book
  • Larry Wells: 1 Book
  • Heather Gates: Cash donation
  • Sue Mars: 1 Book & Large cash donation
  • Melissa Zietz: 1 Book
  • Jackie Mackesey: 1 Book
  • Sue Carr: 1 Book
  • Brian Blaskowski: 1 Book
  • Kristin Ryan: 2 Books & cash donation
  • Lois Kibbe: 1 Book
  • Ross and Maddie Harford: 2 Books & cash donation
  • Ken Schmidt: 1 Book
  • Nancy Cole-Rice: 1 Book
  • Cindy and Mark Buege: 2 Books
  • Julie Baglama: 1 Book
  • Nachreiner family: 1 Book
  • Lucy Brown: 2 Books & cash donation
  • Val Grittinger: 1 Book and large cash donation
  • Julie, Jake and Brooke Slinde: 3 Books
  • Debbie Krause: 1 Book
  • Pam Holmgren: 1 Book
  • Charles Simmons: 2 Books
  • Bev Dimaggio
  • Kristen Friedrichs: 2 Books & referral of Josely Figuieredo
  • Josely Figuieredo: 2 Books
  • Neil and Patricia Pasbrig: Large cash donation
  • Neil and Patricia Pasbrig: 2 Books
  • Lydia, Ben & Molly Schulz: 2 Books
  • Hance Anderson
  • Jenifer Pampuch: 3 Books
  • Jaclyn Kraft: 2 Books
  • Mary Olson: 7 Books
  • Madison & MaKayla Foley: Large cash donation
  • Annilee Pietsch
  • Jill Gonzalez
  • Kristi Schorr
  • Heather Oliver
  • Nilam Rajani
  • Sheryl Foley: 2 Books
  • Amy Miller
  • Holly Kellesvig: 4 Books
  • Esty Dinur: 2 Books
  • Tina Clark: 2 Books
  • Marjory Holt: Book and cash donation
  • Victoria Valdez: 2 Books
  • Christopher Uschan: Helping to set up this blog site through OmniPress
  • Mike Storch: Book and helping to edit My Pretend Book
  • Jodi Ray: book and cash donation
  • Erika Fleck
  • B.J. Wagner
  • Nida Aldachach
  • Brenda Cuta: 3 Books
  • Kurt Vogel: 4 Books
  • Brian Cullen
  • Christy Hartberg: 2 Books
  • Melissa Winger
  • Gina Knudsen
  • Stephany Olson: 3 Books
  • Sheryl Meyer for e-mailing her address list with My Pretend Book information
  • Rob Albrecht for adding this blog to the Porsche Forum
  • OmniPress Team
  • Juan Ortega-Yanez: Cash Donation
  • Jerry Matta
  • Mark O'Connell
  • Dave Lipinski: 6 books
  • Mike Rajic: Cash Donation
  • Glenn Steffen 11
  • Sheryl Meyer
  • Daniel Fisher
  • Jake Schmidt
  • Timothy Strayer
  • Robert Albrecht
  • Olivia Fleck

Colton's tiny hand inside Holly's hand

Colton's tiny hand inside Holly's hand
Click on hand to see video of Colton's daddy holding him for the very first time.

WKOW 27 News Pictures

WKOW 27 News Pictures

Local teen asks for your help to cure his blindness

Posted:
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May 22, 2010 6:23 PM CDT
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By Jamie Hersch - bio email Twitter Facebook
MONONA (WKOW) -- A mother from Monona is fighting to give her legally blind son a chance to see.
The Albrecht family has waited 14 years for a surgery that could cure their son Colton's blindness.
The good news: the surgery will be ready for him to try in just two more years. The bad news: it's going to cost about $65,000 per eye and insurance doesn't cover it.
For years, Colton has cheered on his siblings in sports, but only from the sidelines.
Colton was born at just 24 weeks gestation, weighing one pound, four ounces and about the size of your hand.
His prematurity caused full blindness in his right eye and legal blindness in his left.
But just in time for his sixteenth birthday, an experimental surgery will be ready for Colton to try.
"It's like a 40-inch TV and they just put a microchip in the back of the eye and he sees pixelated views like a television out of his eye," said Colton's mother, Holly Albrecht.
"If I had the surgery it'd be kinda weird, because I haven't seen out of my right eye... ever. So I don't know what that would be like," said Colton.
The only problem now is finding the money to do the surgery.
Instead of just asking for money, Holly created a children's book with a vision, called My Pretend Book. All proceeds will go directly toward Colton's surgery.
This 14-year-old boy loves bike riding, camping and his family, and he's got a mother whose love and determination go far beyond what the eye can see.
"There's no word that could even describe it... I'd take my own eyes and give them to him if I could, and he knows that," said Holly.
The Albrechts have already sold more than 100 copies of the book, but that's not even enough to pay for the books themselves.
That's why they're going to try something new on Sunday; they'll be at the Monona Farmers Market trying to sell a few books from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
To find out more about Colton's condition, learn more about the book or how you can help the Albrechts raise money for his surgery, visit the family's website.

WKOW 27 News Pictures

WKOW 27 News Pictures

Comments

"Holly,Your pretend book is so great.....it's so cute now Jordan does all the things as we read.....now he wants to ride the horse!!!!! I read it to him every Friday when I have him and he really interacts with it....great job.....love,mary"

Nice job, Colts- Grandpa Glenn

Colton, Thank you for brailling in my son's copy of the book.

Holly and Colton- Your book is so cute.

I love how the book has a spot to trace my daughter's hand, how cute!

Many blessings and good luck, Colton. Rob

Time for another book Colton. We've already read this one 100 times. hahaha

I hope that you get the surgery and can see me someday. Your friend, Me

Good luck, Colton!!

Taren and Sam look so funny in the book! Meredith




Camping in our "Ol' 78"

Camping in our "Ol' 78"

Our favorite retreat "The Pines"

Our favorite retreat "The Pines"

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