Donation protected
Hi I'm Dae Howerton, I am a fashion/beauty photographer. About 4 years ago, I was diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease known as keratoconus. Keratoconus is a disease that causes the eye to bulge, which began to thin and weaken the cornea in the eye. In a normal eye the eyeball is shaped like a sphere, however, with keratoconus, the eye begins to take the shape of a football.
Last week I went to a specialist and I was told the (progression of my disease has increased.) If I don’t get corneal transplant surgery, I will become legally blind. I was completely overwhelmed. My eyes are my life. As if the surgery wasn't scary enough, the cost of the procedure proved much more than anticipated.
While all of these techniques seem dangerous and scary, I am finding out through research that these procedures are quite common, but as with all surgeries, they are not without risks. For my left eye the recovery time is from 2 -6 weeksand for my right eye it can take from 12-18 months to fully recover. Because both eyes are affected by this disease, (though both are in different stages of degeneration), each eye will need to be done, but not at the same time.
I am asking for help because I can't afford the surgery. As a result of the pandemic and being unable to work at full capacity, the past year, my savings have taken a major loss. Any help would be greatly appreciated while I begin fighting this uphill battle to continue doing what I love.
(For photographers, our sight is our voice - without it, we are silenced.)
Last week I went to a specialist and I was told the (progression of my disease has increased.) If I don’t get corneal transplant surgery, I will become legally blind. I was completely overwhelmed. My eyes are my life. As if the surgery wasn't scary enough, the cost of the procedure proved much more than anticipated.
While all of these techniques seem dangerous and scary, I am finding out through research that these procedures are quite common, but as with all surgeries, they are not without risks. For my left eye the recovery time is from 2 -6 weeksand for my right eye it can take from 12-18 months to fully recover. Because both eyes are affected by this disease, (though both are in different stages of degeneration), each eye will need to be done, but not at the same time.
I am asking for help because I can't afford the surgery. As a result of the pandemic and being unable to work at full capacity, the past year, my savings have taken a major loss. Any help would be greatly appreciated while I begin fighting this uphill battle to continue doing what I love.
(For photographers, our sight is our voice - without it, we are silenced.)
Organizer
DeJon Howerton
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA