Help an art teacher see again
Donation protected
Tamara was an art teacher at Grant Wood Elementary school until two years ago. While home with a migraine she was assaulted by intruders and shot with her own handgun as she tried to defend herself. Miraculously she survived, and as a result is now completely blind in her right eye and legally blind in her left.
Because of her blindness she is no longer able to teach, and struggles with performing daily tasks. Simple things like finding the right spices for a recipe, plugging in a light, or finding her phone when it is sitting on the counter right in front of her is wrought with frustration. She can't see the faces of family members, or even make out her sons on stage when they perform in choir and band events. She can't see the faces of her students light up with pride in the projects they create. She can't even make her own art anymore.
Thanks to assistive devices like Esight, which she took a demonstration of this past weekend, it is possible for her to see again. With advanced assistive technology she could see the faces of people in the room while having a conversation, could read a book held in front of her, could use a computer without frustration, and could even see with 20/20 vision at 20 feet away. Unfortunately such technology comes with a hefty price tag that isn't covered by insurance that has already been taxed because of all the medical care needed to tend to her injuries over the past two years.
Seeing a tear in her eye because she could finally see the smile on a persons face was one of the most heart wrenching things I've ever experienced after two solid years of pain, healing, and frustration. She is the strongest, most compassionate woman I've ever known, and all I want to give her for christmas is the gift of sight. She is a talented artist, a great teacher, and with the help of the right technology could return to doing both of those again very soon.
She does not yet know of this campaign, and doesn't want to pursue assistive technology like Esight because of the cost. Our hope is that we can surprise her with a christmas gift that can come close to making up for the christmas that was was taken away two years go while she was in critical care. She didn't lose her vision over time, it was taken away at gunpoint; and we aim to take it back.
Because of her blindness she is no longer able to teach, and struggles with performing daily tasks. Simple things like finding the right spices for a recipe, plugging in a light, or finding her phone when it is sitting on the counter right in front of her is wrought with frustration. She can't see the faces of family members, or even make out her sons on stage when they perform in choir and band events. She can't see the faces of her students light up with pride in the projects they create. She can't even make her own art anymore.
Thanks to assistive devices like Esight, which she took a demonstration of this past weekend, it is possible for her to see again. With advanced assistive technology she could see the faces of people in the room while having a conversation, could read a book held in front of her, could use a computer without frustration, and could even see with 20/20 vision at 20 feet away. Unfortunately such technology comes with a hefty price tag that isn't covered by insurance that has already been taxed because of all the medical care needed to tend to her injuries over the past two years.
Seeing a tear in her eye because she could finally see the smile on a persons face was one of the most heart wrenching things I've ever experienced after two solid years of pain, healing, and frustration. She is the strongest, most compassionate woman I've ever known, and all I want to give her for christmas is the gift of sight. She is a talented artist, a great teacher, and with the help of the right technology could return to doing both of those again very soon.
She does not yet know of this campaign, and doesn't want to pursue assistive technology like Esight because of the cost. Our hope is that we can surprise her with a christmas gift that can come close to making up for the christmas that was was taken away two years go while she was in critical care. She didn't lose her vision over time, it was taken away at gunpoint; and we aim to take it back.
Organizer
Anthony Crawford
Organizer
Cedar Rapids, IA
