In the summer of 1998, after a month of dealing with the news of my father’s health issue that would later claim his life, I was diagnosed as Type 1 Diabetic. While still living with my family and going to school I was able to keep my Diabetes under control with constant doctors’ visits, nutrition management and working out. Unfortunately, after a few visits to the E.R. and I.C.U. , due to common colds and the flu ( which affect Diabetics a bit more than someone without Diabetes) my body got to the point where it had more trouble healing. Around the same time, because I couldn’t keep a steady 9-5 and I couldn’t keep up with school as a full time student, I found myself without insurance coverage. This was around 2005.

In 2008, about 3 years without proper Diabetes care/resources/etc. I was working construction, receiving payment under the table and no health coverage. During that summer I was caught in a windstorm that blew sawdust in my eyes causing small cuts. Usually, with all the treatment I received, a regular healthy person heals without an issue. Unfortunately, going a few years without the proper care and health not that great, my eyes didn’t heal as one would hope fast enough. After a month of treatment, a surgery that took embryonic tissue that was layered over both eyes to help it heal, my left eye healed without major long term affects. My right eye, however, did not. I woke up one day in September without being able to see out of the eye. We rushed to the E.R., was sent to Devers Eye Clinic, and countless tests were done. There was nothing that could be done at this point.

I sat home for about 4 days feeling pretty depressed. Wanted to do nothing, eat nothing, etc. 4 days was enough of self-pity. I got up and went back to construction work. Ironically it took going blind to finally get health coverage. I guess in the long run with out the Medicare coverage I have now, things could of been/be worse. My family and friends have been a great support system along the way.

My fiancé met me after I lost sight in my right eye and it became this half sized, red and cloudy eye-ball. Yet, she saw beyond that (no pun intended). That was 2 years ago. For our wedding, I would love to be able to take pictures, with confidence and not wear sunglasses as I do 99% of the time. She did not ask me to do this, nor would she ever. She has made it very clear she doesn’t need that from me, but, she understands and supports me no matter what. I want this for us. To have some great pictures to have and share from the day of our wedding with those people we love and hold dear.

There is a great Ocular Prosthetic gentleman here in Portland, Oregon that comes highly recommended (A short film about him received Honorable Mention in Sundance in 2003, the film is titled "Ocularist"). The prosthetic/Shell, is not cheap. It cost's approximately $5000. Medicare might cover part of the cost, but, I would need to pay up front and then possibly be reimbursed for a percentage. Booking the procedure is time sensitive. Right now the next available appointment is in September. I would need to pay before the procedure and if an opening comes up it might be sooner.

It never occurred to me to start this funding campaign but a few friends have contacted me personally and reminded me that this idea wasn’t me asking for money, that it wasn’t me asking for a hand out. It was an idea brought to me by people in my life wanting a way to help out. And to them i say, Thank You.

I am going to try to book the next available appointment in September without having to pay anything up front if possible. If I don’t have the funds to be able to do this in September or before, well, we will try for October, November, etc. 

I will keep everyone updated via a FB page I will start to show everyone the process and the help they are giving and share a bit more about myself. 

I have always trusted in my friends and family. My community. They have asked me to trust in them once more. So here I go. Leap of faith.

"You Jump: I Jump"

Thank you.
Diego.