
Help Doug Regain Sight and Independence
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Hello. I am Doug and I am raising funds to help me see, work, and thrive.
I have worked with my hands, my head, and my eyes my entire life. From being a mechanic to a paramedic to a field service technician to an engineering lab technician. In 2019, a recurring retinal detachment left me blind in my left eye. Then in 2022, I suffered a retinal detachment in my right eye; however, this time surgery successfully reattached my retina. In 2024, I was struck with glaucoma in my idiopathic right eye. This condition caused what can best be described as a narrowing of my vision. Not only did my vision narrow, but it also became off-center. A final surgery to place a tube in my eye stabilized the pressure and halted the vision loss. By this time, my vision loss was enough that I lost the ability to drive, am now considered legally blind (even though I have some vision remaining in my right eye), and utilize a white cane for daily activities.
Throughout this, I have attempted to maintain my employment and was lucky enough to work for an organization that gave me time and tools to try to continue working and be a productive member of society, but sadly my vision is too limited to work safely amidst machinery. I was placed on disability and had a 40% reduction in income. Throughout the past several months, I have evaluated several sight-enhancing devices, all of which I found to be lacking due to the nature of my eye's condition. That is until I evaluated the eSight-Go. This device is astounding in that it enables vision well enough that I can perform many tasks that, before, I took for granted.
I am enlisting this forum and asking for help with the hope that I can raise enough money to purchase the eSight-Go.
I am currently associated with a local university and will begin taking courses soon, in the audio engineering realm, and this device will assist with my upcoming studies.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story and I appreciate any help you are able to give.
Doug
Organizer
Doug Washabaugh
Organizer
Verona, PA