Hello friends!
  I'm Elizabeth Alvarez. I'm 21, from new jersey. 
When I was born my parents got told that I was a miracle baby, being 2lbs 14 oz.  From then on was a struggle for my parents watching their baby grow within a box until they were finally able to bring their baby home. As time went on.. my grandmother noticed my left eye becoming lazy and foggy. I was terrified of the dark, running into walls, doors, anything you name it. At the age of 2 years old, I was having seizures.  My parents decided to bring me to the doctor's. Many doctors ran test after test. They finally did an egg test to find a spike coming from the left side of my brain. At the age of 3 years old is when they had found the tumor that was the cause of this. Coming to the conclusion that they were going to diagnose me with Retinoblastoma.  A rare eye cancer. 

[Retinoblastma is an eye cancer within the back of the retina] 

 My parents struggled with this news... "What to do now?" After many decisions being put on the table. Unfortunately, saving my eye wasn't a choice. As if, cancer had grown so large within my eye (the size of a golf ball) it would only spread to my brain. 

My parents met with many Doctors at Wills Eye Hospital. - Dr.Carol Shields (Chief of the Ocular Oncology Service at Wills Eye Hospital) and, Dr. Kevin Kelley.  

Once removing my eye, my parents knew that this is something that I would have to live with for the rest of my life. However, knowing they made the right decision. With also the fear of cancer ever returning into my body again.  Meeting with some of the best doctors to create an eye prosthetic made just for me.

 With this back story, leads to me why I am asking for donations.  A prosthetic eye should be replaced on an average of 10 years.  I have had my current prosthetic for about 18 years of my life. Noticing my eyelid becoming droopy, VERY dry, and easy to fall out. Loss of shine is another factor  (yes you can get it reglazed) but this eye doesn't fit the eye socket anymore. These are all signs that a new prosthetic is needed. 

Unfortunately, Insurance will not over an eye prosthetic due to it being "cosmetic".. As a family, we have tried to go about this in many ways to receive any sort of help. The cost of this is roughly about $3,000-5,000.

[expensive. I know. To only feel as normal as anyone else.] 

My reason behind asking only for $3,000 is because we want to be able to provide an amount of the cost. Currently scheduled for a check-up visit at wills eye hospital (as required every so often) and consultation at Dr. Kelley's office on 02/03/2020. 

-Any donation is greatly appreciated and will all fully go to the making of my new prosthetic eye.-  Even just sharing this with anyone you know or on any social media platform will also be appreciated. 

Thank you for your time, 
Elizabeth