Help Julian Mendez, age 6, regain his eyesight

Six-year-old Julian Mendez is in need of a specialized surgery for both eyes.

The family has been told there are no pediatric eye specialists in the Springfield, Mo., who are able to perform the needed surgery, and Julian's family has had to seek care in another area. The Mendez family will travel out of state for appointments before and after the surgery as well as for the procedure itself.

Julian has been losing vision as his eye muscles have weakened in recent months. Julian's parents are self-employed and have a healthcare plan that does not cover Julian's surgery. The family's healthcare provider has deemed Julian's condition 'pre-existing.'

The procedure is set for late September. It has a good prognosis, and the hope is Julian will regain full vision and even be able to go without glasses someday. It will take about six weeks for his eyes to recover from the surgery. Julian will need ongoing medical care, and it remains a possibility he may need additional surgeries in the future.

Julian's parents have not asked for financial assistance and had planned to make payments for Julian's surgery, hospital stays, and other appointments. But the family's church small group came together to find a real and tangible way to help during this difficult time.

There are two ways to give:

'Comedy for a Cause Featuring Trey Kennedy' is a concert and laugh-out-loud standup comedy event featuring YouTube star Trey Kennedy and Nashville artist Micah Christopher. The benefit is at Ridgecrest Baptist Church October 23, 2021. It starts at 2 p.m., and tickets start at $20.

The web link for tickets is available here:

Tickets to 'Comedy for a Cause'

If you are unable to attend the event, you can still purchase and donate your tickets to a friend or contribute through this GoFundMe page.

Here's another look at Julian's Story and how you can help:

All contributions are being tracked and monitored by a senior accountant with BKD in Springfield, Missouri, as well as an advisory committee from the Mendez family's small group at Ridgecrest Baptist Church. All donations will go toward medical expenses and other needs associated with medical care.