My name is Dawn Wilson and I am Executive Editor at Twisted Dreams Press. My position at the press does not yet bring in a sustainable monthly income, so I have been relying on various freelance writing gigs as well as book royalties to pay for assorted costs. My work as a writer and author appears under my maiden name, Colclasure.

After I lost my job in 2021, I spent years grappling with low self-esteem and lack of confidence in my ability to be a part of the working world. My anxiety, depression, and panic disorder only made this worse. I gradually found the confidence to work as a freelancer and hope to secure employment outside of the home in the near future.

My husband has a full-time job and provides for the family. My current situation with my right eye has been a barrier in seeking employment, as I am unable to drive and many employers insist on their employees having their own transportation.

As far as my right eye is concerned, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 glaucoma in the summer of 2025. It is almost Stage 4. This diagnosis means that the vision in my right eye is compromised and I am unable to use both of my eyes for things such as writing, editing, driving, and safely navigating moving about in public. I attempted to receive corrective eye surgery last year and while our insurance covered some of the cost, we were not able to save up the money needed to cover the full cost and it was canceled.

I have had to adjust to life with only one good eye, but a recent visit to my ophthalmologist has confirmed that vision in my right eye is getting worse due to the glaucoma. I’m terrified of going completely blind in my right eye. I would really like to have the corrective surgery in order to be able to see out of both of my eyes again. I dream of being able to drive again! It has been a burden relying on people for rides and, unfortunately, I do not make enough money to afford Uber rides to places such as doctor appointments and trips to the pharmacy. I would also like to seek part-time employment once my vision is improved and I am able to drive again.

While I continue the freelance work at home, we have come to the decision that we will need to seek financial assistance from others in order to pay for my corrective surgery. We will do everything in our power to raise the money for my surgery that is scheduled for the first of April, and those efforts include setting up this GoFundMe in order to raise the money. Several members of our families as well as our friends have confirmed they wish to help us out, so I am creating this in order to make that easier for all involved, as well as to spread the word in order to make others who are able and willing to help aware of this need for financial assistance.

The amount I have set up for this GoFundMe will go towards paying the surgeon, the surgery center, and covering the cost of medication.

I would be very grateful to everyone who helps us out so that I can have this corrective surgery and get my eye fixed. It would mean so much to me! I would like to pay it forward, as well as offer an opportunity to either dedicate a book to a person who has helped me out, ghostwrite a book for a person who contributes, or edit a manuscript for a donor once I am able to get back to work after my recovery.

If you can help out in raising the funds for this surgery, even just a little bit, I would be very grateful. Every little bit chipped in will help our efforts to raise the money needed for this surgery. Thank you in advance!