Jemma's Fight For Sight
Donation protected
JEMMA, ALFIE & OSCAR NEED OUR HELP
32 year old Jemma Jackson is a single mum to two beautiful boys, Alfie (6) and Oscar (14).
When Jemma was only three years old, she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Devastatingly, as a result of the diabetes, Jemma has now developed proliferative retinopathy in both eyes; a rapidly blinding disease that could leave Jemma without sight within a year. Imagine not being able to watch your children grow up, and how frightening it must be knowing that you could soon be plunged into complete darkness. No child should have to see their mummy go blind, especially when there is a successful preventative treatment available.
The only treatment currently available on the NHS, proliferative retinol therapy, has not been successful for Jemma. However, there is some good news. While there is no cure, there is a preventative treatment that is proving to be extremely successful for Jemma. This treatment involves injecting a chemical into the eyeball - this inhibits the growth of abnormal vessels within the retina. Jemma has already had some of these injections and they have worked tremendously, giving Jemma and her family desperately needed hope. If continued, this treatment will stop Jemma from losing any more of her sight. It is called Eylea - you can read more about it here: https://bit.ly/35hos6a
These sight-saving eye injections are already available on the NHS for many other eye diseases. But, although the NHS has recommended them to treat Jemma, they are only available for people with her condition privately and at huge cost.
Until the drug is approved for NHS provision for Jemma’s condition, she desperately needs funds for continued private treatment. At Yeovil Hospital, this comes to just under £1000 per injection, and, at the moment, Jemma needs another six to stop the damage to her sight getting any worse. We are, therefore, trying to raise an initial £5,000 so that Jemma can continue being the amazing mum she is.
"As many of you know already - I am a single parent to two boys. I struggle but I am able to carry on a normal-ish life with the vision I do have left. But if I were to lose anymore, or all of my vision - I honestly don’t know what I would do. The thought makes me feel sick to my stomach. Any parent can relate and understand how painful the prospect of not being able to see your child’s faces ever again would be. It’s a pain like I’ve never known and a fear I could never have imagined. I know I am lucky in many other ways - I should and would be blind already if it wasn’t for the treatments I’ve already had! - but I am so scared at what my future might hold. I just really want to keep my vision for as long as possible. So I can see my kids grow up. And then my eyes can finally give up! But until then, I desperately want to keep fighting. Please please help me if you can. Thank you so very much " - Jemma Jackson
32 year old Jemma Jackson is a single mum to two beautiful boys, Alfie (6) and Oscar (14).
When Jemma was only three years old, she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Devastatingly, as a result of the diabetes, Jemma has now developed proliferative retinopathy in both eyes; a rapidly blinding disease that could leave Jemma without sight within a year. Imagine not being able to watch your children grow up, and how frightening it must be knowing that you could soon be plunged into complete darkness. No child should have to see their mummy go blind, especially when there is a successful preventative treatment available.
The only treatment currently available on the NHS, proliferative retinol therapy, has not been successful for Jemma. However, there is some good news. While there is no cure, there is a preventative treatment that is proving to be extremely successful for Jemma. This treatment involves injecting a chemical into the eyeball - this inhibits the growth of abnormal vessels within the retina. Jemma has already had some of these injections and they have worked tremendously, giving Jemma and her family desperately needed hope. If continued, this treatment will stop Jemma from losing any more of her sight. It is called Eylea - you can read more about it here: https://bit.ly/35hos6a
These sight-saving eye injections are already available on the NHS for many other eye diseases. But, although the NHS has recommended them to treat Jemma, they are only available for people with her condition privately and at huge cost.
Until the drug is approved for NHS provision for Jemma’s condition, she desperately needs funds for continued private treatment. At Yeovil Hospital, this comes to just under £1000 per injection, and, at the moment, Jemma needs another six to stop the damage to her sight getting any worse. We are, therefore, trying to raise an initial £5,000 so that Jemma can continue being the amazing mum she is.
"As many of you know already - I am a single parent to two boys. I struggle but I am able to carry on a normal-ish life with the vision I do have left. But if I were to lose anymore, or all of my vision - I honestly don’t know what I would do. The thought makes me feel sick to my stomach. Any parent can relate and understand how painful the prospect of not being able to see your child’s faces ever again would be. It’s a pain like I’ve never known and a fear I could never have imagined. I know I am lucky in many other ways - I should and would be blind already if it wasn’t for the treatments I’ve already had! - but I am so scared at what my future might hold. I just really want to keep my vision for as long as possible. So I can see my kids grow up. And then my eyes can finally give up! But until then, I desperately want to keep fighting. Please please help me if you can. Thank you so very much " - Jemma Jackson
Organizer
Jemma Jackson
Organizer
