Main fundraiser photo

Emergency eye cornea transplant

Donation protected
Three weeks ago I acquired a 90 gallon fish tank. I turned it into a saltwater aquarium and in doing so the aquarium needed rock to grow beneficial bacteria. The tank had about 30 lbs of live rock in it. I purchased about 60 lbs of non live rock from someone on Facebook. I am not entirely new to the saltwater scene but new enough to not know anything about corals and toxins. I was told the rock that I bought had dead corals on it and would just stay that way. I took the rock home and introduced it into my tank.. When I was placing the rock into the tank I accidentally cut my hand on one of the rocks. I didn't think to much of it that night... The next morning my daughter woke me up in a panic. Her dog was cold to touch and barely breathing. I rushed out of bed and we took her to the humane society that after testing determined her colon was releasing her intestines. The wanted to do surgery but needed to get her blood pressure heart rate and temperature to come stable. So we left her there. During that time I itched my eye with my right hand with the cut, again not knowing anything I didn't think anything about it. 30 mins later I went to st Luke's emergency hospital because my right eye turned bloodshot red and was hurting me so bad I could not see. I was there for 3 hours and was told I needed to get into a optometrist as soon as I left we received a call that the dog had passed away. We went to the vet and found out she may have ingested some of the rock crumbs that I purchased. After all was done I went back to the er because my eye had swollen shut. The doctors again told me I needed to get into the optometrist. So that night went to bed and couldn't wake up for anything the next day. The er doctor called to check on me and informed me I needed to get in the er immediately. So at this point it was early afternoon. I had to wake my oldest daughter up which she had a hard time waking up. So my daughter took me to the er where they admitted me a few hours later. My daughter was taken to the er because they found high levels of carbon monoxide in my blood and tested her and found the same. She was released that evening. While I was admitted people were told they would be required to wear masks and suits to come around me. I was transferred to icu for the breathing issues and to be quarantined. I remained in the hospital for 3 days. During that time I was in contact with hollingshead eye center who told me they've never seen anything like this. It was determined that the rock that I got had corals that were not entirely dead and released palytoxin into the water and air. the palytoxin was in my hand and when I rubbed my eye it essentially made me blind in my right eye. 95% of the cornea is damaged with little to no chance of getting my vision to come back. There has only been 9 other reported cases in the world about this issue related to the eye. The center of disease control, central district health dept, fire dept, hazmat and infectious disease have been in contact with me and have told me that they have no resources to get the rock and tank out of my house, (this came straight from Central district health) so they gave me info on how to dispose of this. In my 90 Gallon tank I needed to add 10 gallons of bleach. So being sick and one eye I have no choice but to do this on my own. I haven't been able to work in almost 2 weeks. Being a mechanic it's hard working with one eye. I am looking for people out there to help me try anything. The eye doctors have told me 3 to 6 months to see if any changes and if none possibly eye surgery for stem cell transfer from my left eye to my right. Or cataract surgery. Being a single dad and not working be a use of my health and eye has just put me to the point of giving up. I'm hoping people can help me out in anyway I want to be able to see out of both eyes and not just one. I have been referred to a doctor in Salt Lake city but not easy to travel there to see him. Please help if you can if not thank you for atleast reading. 

Organizer

Tony Arellano
Organizer
Meridian, ID

Inspired to help? Start a fundraiser for someone you know

Help someone you know by raising funds and getting their support started.

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.