Support Jac to get her Vision Back
Donation protected
Jaclyn recently left Tofino after living there for 7 years, to embark on a new adventure up to Haida Gwaii. Unfortunately, Jaclyn’s new adventure took an unexpected turn after only a week in Haidi Gwaii.
Jaclyn woke up at 4 am unable to open her eyes. She assumed that she had pink eye and that it would get better with some eye drops. The infection continued to worsen and by the end of the day she was unable to see and both of her eyes were very red and infected. She was flown out of Haida Gwaii to the Massett hospital on May 2nd. The doctor in Massett decided that the infection was beyond his expertise and decided to medi-vac her to St.Paul’s hospital in Vancouver.
The following day, a Cornea Specialist let her know that the infection had scarred both of her corneas and that she would most likely need a transplant.
It’s amazing that our medical system has the technology to replace a person’s corneas, but the current waitlist in Vancouver is about 1 year. The specialist told her not to expect her vision to improve from where it was currently. Luckily, over the next few days of antibiotic drops administered every hour, the infection started to clear and Jaclyn did gain a little bit of her vision back.
What she first described as “scrambling down a dark hallway” has now improved to the equivalent of being legally blind, or having the worst possible prescription you could. She’s unable to read, or to make out detail on people’s faces, she can make out shapes and colours and objects from a short distance.
She has been referred to a specialist in Victoria and the prognosis is looking up. He said her vision will get better, it will just take time. It will most likely be 2 months before she will see any major improvements. The specialist will then determine if she will still need a cornea transplant, or if she can get her vision back with a special corrective lens. The waitlist in Victoria for a transplant is about 4 months.
For the next 6 months of recovery Jaclyn is unable to work and trying to set her self up somewhere that she is comfortable in Victoria. Any contributions to help Jaclyn out with the cost of accommodation, food and medication would be greatly appreciated. Any money above and beyond what Jaclyn needs for immediate living expenses she said she would like to donate to the Canadian Institute for the Blind.
Cornea transplants are organ transplants, and do need to come from a donor. If becoming an organ donor is something that you have considered and never followed through with, Jaclyn would like to encourage you to do so. Jaclyn will get her vision back, which is something she would never get to experience without an organ donor.
Any small donations would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much,
Jaclyn’s Friends and Family
Jaclyn woke up at 4 am unable to open her eyes. She assumed that she had pink eye and that it would get better with some eye drops. The infection continued to worsen and by the end of the day she was unable to see and both of her eyes were very red and infected. She was flown out of Haida Gwaii to the Massett hospital on May 2nd. The doctor in Massett decided that the infection was beyond his expertise and decided to medi-vac her to St.Paul’s hospital in Vancouver.
The following day, a Cornea Specialist let her know that the infection had scarred both of her corneas and that she would most likely need a transplant.
It’s amazing that our medical system has the technology to replace a person’s corneas, but the current waitlist in Vancouver is about 1 year. The specialist told her not to expect her vision to improve from where it was currently. Luckily, over the next few days of antibiotic drops administered every hour, the infection started to clear and Jaclyn did gain a little bit of her vision back.
What she first described as “scrambling down a dark hallway” has now improved to the equivalent of being legally blind, or having the worst possible prescription you could. She’s unable to read, or to make out detail on people’s faces, she can make out shapes and colours and objects from a short distance.
She has been referred to a specialist in Victoria and the prognosis is looking up. He said her vision will get better, it will just take time. It will most likely be 2 months before she will see any major improvements. The specialist will then determine if she will still need a cornea transplant, or if she can get her vision back with a special corrective lens. The waitlist in Victoria for a transplant is about 4 months.
For the next 6 months of recovery Jaclyn is unable to work and trying to set her self up somewhere that she is comfortable in Victoria. Any contributions to help Jaclyn out with the cost of accommodation, food and medication would be greatly appreciated. Any money above and beyond what Jaclyn needs for immediate living expenses she said she would like to donate to the Canadian Institute for the Blind.
Cornea transplants are organ transplants, and do need to come from a donor. If becoming an organ donor is something that you have considered and never followed through with, Jaclyn would like to encourage you to do so. Jaclyn will get her vision back, which is something she would never get to experience without an organ donor.
Any small donations would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much,
Jaclyn’s Friends and Family
Organizer
Kyla Emery
Organizer
Tofino, BC
