Dad's Glaucoma Fund

Imagine looking forward to your retirement, after spending a lifetime as a skilled plasterer and that day comes the first month of 2012. But what was considered the first day of a new life chapter, stapled with relaxation and new explorations isn’t celebratory at all a year later. Instead, it is cloudy, blurry, and marked with despair and frustration. All of your old and new experiences only leave you confused, uncertain and dependent. Your eyes, one of major senses, are now dry, itchy, plagued with sharp pains, causing debilitating soreness, and their visual purpose has been drastically affected. For my Dad, John Roberts, this has been his daily ordeal since he was first diagnosed with glaucoma, June 2013.

Coming from a large family, my Dad has managed to be a master of all trades. He has always been able solve any common problem that arises, build, construct and teach any skill needed. We know he has been truly devastated that the glaucoma has robbed him of his ability to exercise his many gifts and talents. The independent and resourceful, father of six and grandfather of nine ceases to exist. Moreover, his grandkids are not currently able to benefit from their Grandpa’s tutelage which diminishes his legacy. Now, he can no longer drive, cook, tend to his affairs, and even getting dressed is a struggle. My family oriented father needs assistance to do many of things that we, those with vision, take for granted, like selecting what he chooses to eat from a meal. Personally, his condition has taken a toll on all of us who love him dearly. As his family, we do our best to keep up his spirits but he quickly reminds us all that although he is present, his eye condition yields absence. There is no visual imprint or memory being created.

Therefore, it was truly agonizing after so many subsequent eye treatments and procedures, for the doctors to tell my father that his optic nerves have been damaged due to the glaucoma. And even though, the hope of recovery seemed to fade, after every follow up visit, we as his family decided that giving up isn’t an option. After hearing my Dad share what I hope to be the last doctor visit of discouragement, I decided to follow up on information provided by my aunt and we quickly realized were on the right path. The search for an innovative medical procedure that focuses on optic nerve restoration started and ended with a stem cell procedure.  After speaking with Retina Associates of South Florida in Margate, Florida, I was told that Dr. Jeffrey Weiss was the doctor who could give my Dad the gift of restoring his sight. He uses a glaucoma patient’s stem cells to repair optic nerve damage. I was informed that my father must to be evaluated to see if he is a candidate for the stem cell procedure. Then, the cost was revealed. This elective procedure is not covered by Medicare or insurance and the sum of $19,600 is needed for the procedure. And the good news came on October 18, 2016, the day of my father’s evaluation-the doctor stated he is a candidate for the stem cell procedure. We were elated beyond words.

So, after sharing my father’s story with my students, they suggested to start a GoFundMe page for my Dad. Raising the money for my father’s medical procedure is a goal we desperately hope to achieve. We, as his family are imploring all sponsors to charitably donate in any way you can. Your sacrifice will be a blessing to my Dad and hopefully other glaucoma sufferers too. Why? We are paying it forward and will use all additional proceeds to sponsor other glaucoma sufferers who are candidates for the same stem cell procedure. Please make a monetary donation of any amount and then pay it forward by sharing my Dad’s story. His plight and recovery could be beneficial to educating others who are suffering from the effects of glaucoma who have lost hope. We, like many others, know and understand how many people lack the funds needed to tackle financial hardships stemming from medical needs. In closing, I am ending with a letter addressed to my Dad, denoted “Dear Dad”, thank you for your time, assistance, support and generosity.
 
“Dear Dad”,

“Reflecting on your presence in my life, captures precious moments to share.”

“Remembering my infancy and doting on how your role was to show how much you cared.”

“You always manage to make me smile, when times get tough.”

“And now your life has been challenging and rough.”

“You continue to fight the good fight, taking baby steps in stride.”

“But we all know what you are going through and trying to hide.”

“Your pain is both physical and emotional and we know this to be true.”

“And we can’t wait for the day for you to clearly see colors and hues.”

“Your strength is remarkable and to be admired.”

“But we know you have grown very tired.”

“So, we look forward to the day, when you have been restored-to the man we know and love forevermore.”

“Your loving daughter”,

          Kiki…xoxo