- J
- M
On March 1st, 2015 I was involved in a horrific cycling accident competing in a USA Cycling sanctioned racing event. “At that moment” I was very well positioned in the race and had thoughts of a podium spot in the individual race and the overall GC. I also had planned to spend time with my family in the upcoming weeks, to hold my grandchildren and watch them grow for years to come. In the blink of an eye those thoughts all vanished and I was fighting to stay alive and wondering if I would ever see them again….
As a result of this accident, I received 50 stitches/staples from my right eye brow to the back of my head, 8 stitches to my ear, spent 10 days in the hospital on two separate occasions, countless doctor appointments that are still on-going, intravenous steroids which caused me to gain 20 pounds, hair loss >30% and damage to my thyroid. My optic nerves experienced significant damage and I currently see very little in my right eye (20/800) with very little light perception. My left eye is 20/20, but I have a blind spot of approximately 20% of my lower field of vision.
While I am truly blessed, my ensuing battle has been a difficult one, but I refuse to feel sorry for myself or give up. Since that day I have been unable to ride in even one group ride. I had been riding on the road by myself, but I have limited myself to trainer spinning sessions since a car ran me off the road and into some bushes in late June. While I will never race in a mass start race again, I do hope to be able to race in time trials and triathlons some day and ride with my cycling sisters and brothers on some of my favorite rides, like Tuesday Worlds, Wednesday Bakery Ride, Saturday HOP and numerous fundraiser rides like Best Buddies.
Even with employer insurance and USAC insurance (which I am blessed to have), the accident has resulted to date in $12,000 out of pocket expenses. I have never given up hope that God will heal me and I will someday be able to ride in group rides with my cycling sisters and brothers on some of my favorite rides mentioned above, especially Best Buddies.
I have never and will never give up faith that God will heal my vision someday. As a result of my continued search, I have found a clinical trial Stem Cell Ophthalmology Treatment Study (SCOTS) that shows promising success in treating people with optic nerve conditions similar to me, including people that had previously been blind their entire lives. Additional information can be found in the following links:
Retina-surgeon-breaks-new-ground-in-fight-against-vision-loss
Stem Cell Ophthalmology Treatment Study (SCOTS) for retinal and optic nerve diseases: a preliminary report
Stem-cell treatment may help those with severe vision problems
Woman's blindness apparently reversed by stem cell treatment
The Stem Cell Ophthalmology Treatment Study (SCOTS) is being conducted by Retina Associates of South Florida and Dr. Steven Levy and Dr. Jeffrey Weiss. My medical records have been evaluated and I have been accepted as a candidate for this treatment. An important point here is that the study is Non-Randomized and all patients receive the treatment. Each patient needs to pay for services, as this study is not funded. If I raise the $30,000 needed for treatment and travel, I will need to travel to Florida and remain there for the procedure and week-long follow-up in the middle of November. They will take stem cells from my bone marrow in my hip, harvest my stem cells, and then inject the stem cell by needle in the direct vicinity of both optic nerves. Subsequently, they will administer my remaining stem cells via IV.
Those of you that know me well know that I am much more comfortable giving than receiving. While I grew up very poor, we were always taught to be proud and self-reliant, so this is very humbling and hard for me to reach out for help. I promise that I will continue to give to my favorite causes and “pay it forward” regardless. I realize that some of you may not have the resources to give currently and that’s ok. For those of you that are able, please give what you can, regardless of amount.….. I thank and love you all!
As a result of this accident, I received 50 stitches/staples from my right eye brow to the back of my head, 8 stitches to my ear, spent 10 days in the hospital on two separate occasions, countless doctor appointments that are still on-going, intravenous steroids which caused me to gain 20 pounds, hair loss >30% and damage to my thyroid. My optic nerves experienced significant damage and I currently see very little in my right eye (20/800) with very little light perception. My left eye is 20/20, but I have a blind spot of approximately 20% of my lower field of vision.
While I am truly blessed, my ensuing battle has been a difficult one, but I refuse to feel sorry for myself or give up. Since that day I have been unable to ride in even one group ride. I had been riding on the road by myself, but I have limited myself to trainer spinning sessions since a car ran me off the road and into some bushes in late June. While I will never race in a mass start race again, I do hope to be able to race in time trials and triathlons some day and ride with my cycling sisters and brothers on some of my favorite rides, like Tuesday Worlds, Wednesday Bakery Ride, Saturday HOP and numerous fundraiser rides like Best Buddies.
Even with employer insurance and USAC insurance (which I am blessed to have), the accident has resulted to date in $12,000 out of pocket expenses. I have never given up hope that God will heal me and I will someday be able to ride in group rides with my cycling sisters and brothers on some of my favorite rides mentioned above, especially Best Buddies.
I have never and will never give up faith that God will heal my vision someday. As a result of my continued search, I have found a clinical trial Stem Cell Ophthalmology Treatment Study (SCOTS) that shows promising success in treating people with optic nerve conditions similar to me, including people that had previously been blind their entire lives. Additional information can be found in the following links:
Retina-surgeon-breaks-new-ground-in-fight-against-vision-loss
Stem Cell Ophthalmology Treatment Study (SCOTS) for retinal and optic nerve diseases: a preliminary report
Stem-cell treatment may help those with severe vision problems
Woman's blindness apparently reversed by stem cell treatment
The Stem Cell Ophthalmology Treatment Study (SCOTS) is being conducted by Retina Associates of South Florida and Dr. Steven Levy and Dr. Jeffrey Weiss. My medical records have been evaluated and I have been accepted as a candidate for this treatment. An important point here is that the study is Non-Randomized and all patients receive the treatment. Each patient needs to pay for services, as this study is not funded. If I raise the $30,000 needed for treatment and travel, I will need to travel to Florida and remain there for the procedure and week-long follow-up in the middle of November. They will take stem cells from my bone marrow in my hip, harvest my stem cells, and then inject the stem cell by needle in the direct vicinity of both optic nerves. Subsequently, they will administer my remaining stem cells via IV.
Those of you that know me well know that I am much more comfortable giving than receiving. While I grew up very poor, we were always taught to be proud and self-reliant, so this is very humbling and hard for me to reach out for help. I promise that I will continue to give to my favorite causes and “pay it forward” regardless. I realize that some of you may not have the resources to give currently and that’s ok. For those of you that are able, please give what you can, regardless of amount.….. I thank and love you all!