With Gratitude

 

They say that it takes a village to make things happen. But in my case, it took 40 people to help me to afford the cost of undergoing corrective eye surgery.

 

Last year, during the summer, I noticed that I was having vision problems. I like to look up at the moon, and during such occasions, I would see a black spot in the center when looking at the moon with my right eye. I thought this was unusual. I checked with my left eye, and there was no black spot. But with my right eye, there was. This troubled me, so I started testing the vision with my right eye in other circumstances. I would try to look at things only with my right eye, but what I saw was blurry.

 

Don’t get me started on the many mishaps I ran into when trying to drive.

 

So, at one point, I texted my husband, “I think there is something wrong with my right eye.”

 

I made an appointment with the ophthalmologist and got my vision checked. Turned out that I had Stage 3 glaucoma in my right eye, almost Stage 4. Because of this, I was told not to drive.

 

Arrangements were made for a corrective eye surgery to be performed on that eye. After going over the cost to pay the ophthalmologist, a payment plan was set up to cover it. But on the day before the surgery, we were informed that we would have to pay $2000-some odd to the surgery center on the day of the surgery. This was money that we didn’t have. My husband tried to reach out to secure the funds, but he was unsuccessful. We were forced to cancel the surgery.

 

It was very disheartening that I had to cancel the surgery. My oldest relied on me to drive him to work and occasionally to pick him up from work and take him home in the event he got off work early. At that time, my youngest did not yet have his driver’s license, so aside from relying on his bike to get to places, I was driving him places as well. And, of course, I was driving myself to my various doctor appointments or to the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions. So not having the surgery meant going without the freedom to drive anywhere.

 

I adapted to doing things with vision in only one eye. And I was able to get rides when I needed to go somewhere, though it was sometimes a burden for the people to give me a ride somewhere. Because of that, I didn’t go out unless I really had to.

 

Even so, as I adjusted to life with only one good eye, the vision in the bad eye got worse. It got to the point where I couldn’t see my reflection in the mirror or anything that was on the couch – just the outline of the mirror and the outline of the couch!

 

I had my vision checked again in January and, of course, I couldn’t see anything with my right eye. The ophthalmologist informed me that the vision in that eye was worse and he insisted that I have the corrective eye surgery. To make things easier for us to secure the funding for it, he scheduled the surgery for April 1.

 

I had often chatted online with two of my sisters. One of them lives in Illinois and the other lives in California, so chatting online is basically how we communicate. (Sometimes we text, but not so often.) These sisters often encouraged me to set up a GoFundMe to raise money for the surgery. I had previously created a fundraiser to help an orphanage in Uganda, but no one donated to it, so I was pretty cynical about fundraisers. I kept telling my sisters that no one would donate to my GoFundMe. That it was pointless. Also, since I have a penchant for bad luck, I would probably not be very successful in raising the funds for my surgery.

 

But they kept encouraging me to try.

 

Then, finally, I decided to listen to my sisters and give it a go. So I created the GoFundMe to raise money for my eye surgery, expecting that it would be a failure and I could tell my sisters a big fat, “I told you!”

 

Well, I’m glad a bunch of people proved me wrong. In fact, 40 people proved me wrong.

 

The GoFundMe ended up being a huge success. It raised the amount needed for the surgery, with just a bit more for good measure.

 

Most of the people who donated to the GoFundMe were family and friends, but there were some anonymous donors as well. And even after the fundraiser ended, a friend sent us a Walmart card after the surgery so that we could buy groceries. (Note to self: Stock the kitchen with food before a surgery so that the family won’t starve during recovery.)

 

I am so grateful to everyone who stepped up and pitched in so that I could have this corrective eye surgery. And I am also grateful that the surgery was a success and now, almost a year later, I can finally see out of both of my eyes again. I was so thrilled when they removed the mask and I could see the nurses standing at my right side. My heart was bursting with joy and gratitude that day – and it still is.

 

Thank you to everyone who helped to make this possible. To my family, my friends, and the anonymous donors who pitched in so that I could have better vision again. Thank you for being there for me and restoring my faith in others again. And, of course, I will pay it forward to others as well!

 

This experience has helped me to understand that there ARE people out there who are willing to help others out in times of need. So many people have helped me on this journey, and not just financially, either. They have also offered their support, love, encouragement and assistance in a variety of ways.

 

I am also grateful to my ophthalmologist, Dr. Hoffman, as well as the staff at the Fine, Hoffman & Sims clinic. I am also grateful to the amazing surgical team at the Oregon Eye Surgery Center in Eugene, where this surgery was performed. 

 

I am grateful to Dr. Bob Rich for sharing the GoFundMe on his blog. 

 

And, of course, I am grateful to my husband and my kids for all of their love, help, support and assistance. They have been great during my recovery.

 

As to my recovery, I spent that time adjusting to seeing out of both eyes again. How crazy is that, getting used to seeing out of both eyes? But, really, that was what I had to do. I had gone so long without vision in my right eye that I was used to always relying on my left eye to see everything. No more of that! I have vision restored in my right eye now, so I can now see out of BOTH of my eyes! No more closing my right eye while reading since it couldn’t see anyway. No more squinting my left eye and leaning closer on my left to read things. No more HUGE text to read everything. No more having to turn my head to see on my right side.

 

And no more relying on other people to go anywhere!

 

I am not back to driving yet, but it will happen again soon.

 

Meanwhile, I am enjoying life again. One of my sisters said this was like a new chapter in life, and I gotta agree! Before my surgery, I decided that there were going to be some changes. For one thing, I am going to get back into the working world and get a job somewhere. I really need a more reliable source of income since working from home has not been going very well for me on the financial side. For another thing, I am going to get OUT THERE more often and SEE everything that there is to see! I was given the gift of better vision, and I will not take that for granted.

 

I’m so grateful that the surgery was a success and I am grateful to everyone who helped make it possible. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. You made this possible and I will cherish your help for always. Thank you.