Keenan & Keiana Vision Care
Donation protected
I am Moira Bell. I am the proud grandmother of 3 amazing grandchildren. Our two littlest grandchildren – Keenan (almost 3 ½ years old) and Keiana (almost 2 years old) were both born with bilateral congential cataracts. Keenan was officially diagnosed at 18 days old and Keiana was officially diagnosed at one week of age. Although they have the same very serious visual condition, their eye journeys have been individual.
Keenan – since one month of age, Keenan has had to have 6 drops in his eyes daily in order for the pupils to dilate. This enables him to see as much as possible around the cataracts. The drops sting but without them he would not be able to see at all. At first there was no benefit coverage that helped with the costs. One of the drops was finally covered but the other is “hospital grade medication” so it was not, and will not be covered. That drop costs $60 monthly. In September 2015 Keenan had surgery to remove one of his cataracts and have a lens implant put in. Following the surgery he had a month of 18 drops in the operated eye and the normal 6 in the other eye. He continues to have drops in the one eye to dilate the pupil. He now needs glasses to work with the implant to enable him to see with that eye. These glasses cost $500 due to their special prescription. He will need two separate prescriptions a year. Due to the cataracts and dilation of the pupils he is unable to go outside without good quality sunglasses – regardless of weather. Through all of this, Keenan is an amazingly bright, caring, busy little boy who copes well with his visual challenges.
Keiana – since one week of age, Keiana had to have her pupils dilated the same way as Keenan. That doubled the not covered drug costs. Her cataracts were thicker and bigger which meant that she had to have surgery to remove both of the cataracts when she was 6 months old. She also had over a month of 18 drops a day in both eyes. Because her natural lenses were removed, she needs contact lenses which cost $550. Due to prescription changes and the type of lenses she needs, they must be replaced every 2 months, meaning her contact lens cost is $3300 a year. She also needs glasses (so far two pair) that also cost $550 each. There is some glasses/contact insurance available through their Dad’s work, but it is minimal and only on a once every two year basis – so very little help when the prescriptions and lenses change so often. Through all of this, Keiana is a wonderfully feisty, affectionate, busy little girl who also copes well with her visual challenges.
Because of their special needs on a daily basis, their Mom, Bethany, is their full-time caregiver. This has added additional financial stress to their Dad, Jordan, as the only breadwinner, and ongoing financial worry for their family. Both children go to Sick Kids in Toronto for their vision care. We are very grateful to the amazing staff at Sick Kids – thank God for their expertise. At the same time, the physical examinations, tests, the financial costs of travelling and necessity of staying in Toronto hotels, are all additional stresses, as is the significant worry at each appointment that something else will go wrong.
Watching both of my grandbabies is inspirational and heartbreaking at the same time. To Keenan & Keiana - their lives are normal – they know nothing else and are adored by their parents and the entire family. On a daily basis though, they deal with additional stresses, challenges, pain and struggling with their vision. As you can see the approximate financial costs yearly are over $6000 for drops, contacts and glasses. Travelling and hotel costs add at least another $2000.
We are requesting and deeply appreciate any financial assistance that anyone can offer. These expenses are ongoing and significant. Please help Bethany & Jordan ensure that Keenan and Keiana have the best vision they possibly can….
Keenan – since one month of age, Keenan has had to have 6 drops in his eyes daily in order for the pupils to dilate. This enables him to see as much as possible around the cataracts. The drops sting but without them he would not be able to see at all. At first there was no benefit coverage that helped with the costs. One of the drops was finally covered but the other is “hospital grade medication” so it was not, and will not be covered. That drop costs $60 monthly. In September 2015 Keenan had surgery to remove one of his cataracts and have a lens implant put in. Following the surgery he had a month of 18 drops in the operated eye and the normal 6 in the other eye. He continues to have drops in the one eye to dilate the pupil. He now needs glasses to work with the implant to enable him to see with that eye. These glasses cost $500 due to their special prescription. He will need two separate prescriptions a year. Due to the cataracts and dilation of the pupils he is unable to go outside without good quality sunglasses – regardless of weather. Through all of this, Keenan is an amazingly bright, caring, busy little boy who copes well with his visual challenges.
Keiana – since one week of age, Keiana had to have her pupils dilated the same way as Keenan. That doubled the not covered drug costs. Her cataracts were thicker and bigger which meant that she had to have surgery to remove both of the cataracts when she was 6 months old. She also had over a month of 18 drops a day in both eyes. Because her natural lenses were removed, she needs contact lenses which cost $550. Due to prescription changes and the type of lenses she needs, they must be replaced every 2 months, meaning her contact lens cost is $3300 a year. She also needs glasses (so far two pair) that also cost $550 each. There is some glasses/contact insurance available through their Dad’s work, but it is minimal and only on a once every two year basis – so very little help when the prescriptions and lenses change so often. Through all of this, Keiana is a wonderfully feisty, affectionate, busy little girl who also copes well with her visual challenges.
Because of their special needs on a daily basis, their Mom, Bethany, is their full-time caregiver. This has added additional financial stress to their Dad, Jordan, as the only breadwinner, and ongoing financial worry for their family. Both children go to Sick Kids in Toronto for their vision care. We are very grateful to the amazing staff at Sick Kids – thank God for their expertise. At the same time, the physical examinations, tests, the financial costs of travelling and necessity of staying in Toronto hotels, are all additional stresses, as is the significant worry at each appointment that something else will go wrong.
Watching both of my grandbabies is inspirational and heartbreaking at the same time. To Keenan & Keiana - their lives are normal – they know nothing else and are adored by their parents and the entire family. On a daily basis though, they deal with additional stresses, challenges, pain and struggling with their vision. As you can see the approximate financial costs yearly are over $6000 for drops, contacts and glasses. Travelling and hotel costs add at least another $2000.
We are requesting and deeply appreciate any financial assistance that anyone can offer. These expenses are ongoing and significant. Please help Bethany & Jordan ensure that Keenan and Keiana have the best vision they possibly can….
Organizer
Moira Semple Bell
Organizer
London, ON