Help Jasmine get her eyes back!
Donation protected
You never realize how much you depend on your eyes until one day you suddenly can't. That's what happened last year in November when my entire life took a turn. During the first few weeks, I began tripping over things, missing steps, and losing my ability to see at night or on very bright days.
I went to my eye doctor and was rushed to a specialist shortly after. During my first visit, the nurses and staff seemed extremely concerned and nervous. The tone of pity in their voices made me even more nervous. I waited in the patient room for a few minutes which felt like an eternity. The doctor walked in the room and flat out told me I could go blind. I was diagnosed with Diabetic retinopathy, a detached retina, and neovascularization. Being 29 and constantly energetic, I naturally had a meltdown as I played out my newly destroyed life in my head.
They immediately began treating me. I had hundreds of lasers being zapped in my eyes to seal up my blood vessels, they gave my other eye a needle to dry up the blood vessel leakage. It was scary. My heart felt like it was going to come out of my chest. I couldn't process anything afterwards. The room was spinning and my body went numb.
Over time, I lost my ability to see vivid pigmentation, then lines and shapes of things started becoming distorted, then a chunk of my sight was gone, then another chunk. Eventually, all I could see was shades and vague shadows. I have become completely dependent on just one eye. Because of this, I'm unable to drive, I have no peripheral left vision, I hurt myself a lot, sometimes I can't see when someone is standing right next to me, and I have no perception of depth, which means I can't tell how close or far something is. So no more volleyball either. Even working has proven to be quite the struggle. As a workaholic, naturally, I DESPERATELY want to go back to work!
Fast forward, I have now underwent two surgeries, countless painful and vision-affecting injections, have seen more doctors than I could count on both hands, and have been to more doctors' appointments than I wish to acknowledge. All while managing and battling my menacing T1D (type 1 diabetes) This has become my new normal. I have been poked and prodded, I've smiled and I've cried. I've literally have had THOUSANDS of post-op eye drops and steroids put in my eye every hour, on the hour. Even spent small fortunes on second opinions out of the country and did eye-specific alternative medicine that helped with healing. But one thing I haven't done was given up and thats why I'm still here! And FINALLY MY RETINA IS ATTACHED!
NOW I NEED YOUR HELP GUYS.
So please! Help and bless me with a few minutes of your time!
Due to all of the medication, the previous surgery, and the heavy steroids I needed post-op, I have developed an extremely calcified lens that prevents me from knowing if my first two operations were a success. I was sent to a cataract surgeon who explained that I have astigmatism (which obstructs your vision) and lens calcification. He explained that because my eye has already gone through so much trauma and scarring, he strongly suggests fixing the astigmatism for less vision distortion and using laser-assisted precision for more surgical accuracy and less tissue scarring/eye trauma. My insurance will not cover it. I have spent thousands out of pocket just to stay afloat this complex journey. I could have my sight back by THIS MONTH but ONLY WITH YOUR HELP. Please please help me get my life back! I'll admit, I definitely can't do this alone. You're help would mean literally EVERYTHING!
Here is the cost breakdown:
LASER FACILITY COST: $450
PRE IOL w/ LASER FACILITY COST: $1,400
PHYSICIAN SURGICAL COST: $2,400
POST-OP iLux TREATMENT: $400
POST-OP 2-WEEK RECOVERY TREATMENT comes with a vision improvement guarantee(fingers crossed!): $4,100
The remainder would go funding fees, hosting fees, additional medications.
I want to squish my toes in the sand again as I try to block a spike, I want go jogging again with my dog Lulu and not miss a step on the pavement. I want to go for night walks again and be aware of my surroundings. I want to drive again with the wind in my hair with the speakers up and my sunglasses on. I want to sit on the beach and be able to watch the sunsets in all of their glory. I want to be able to see my Dad and my family's faces and smiles after we haven't seen each other in years. I want to work my catering shifts and production jobs again and not have the worry about the venue being too dark or the boss trying to send me out on a driving errand and not being able to deliver.
I just really want to get back to life and it would mean the world to me if you could help me get there! No amount is too small, $50, $20, even $10! I would literally be grateful for anything! Or Donate your time, donate a share! A share would also mean the world! I have one month. One month until the ball starts rolling, I'm nervous and scared but I am HOPEFUL about getting my life back. If I miss next month, I don't know when the surgeon can operate again because he is booked out for months. I would love more than anything to be able to see for my cousin's wedding. I don't want to miss anymore milestones!
The thing most people do first thing in the morning is open there eyes to mark the start of their day and I would love more than anything to be able to do the same. Not only will you guys be helping me get my quality of life back, you'd be helping me literally get my ENTIRE life back, and for that, I could NEVER be more grateful!
I went to my eye doctor and was rushed to a specialist shortly after. During my first visit, the nurses and staff seemed extremely concerned and nervous. The tone of pity in their voices made me even more nervous. I waited in the patient room for a few minutes which felt like an eternity. The doctor walked in the room and flat out told me I could go blind. I was diagnosed with Diabetic retinopathy, a detached retina, and neovascularization. Being 29 and constantly energetic, I naturally had a meltdown as I played out my newly destroyed life in my head.
They immediately began treating me. I had hundreds of lasers being zapped in my eyes to seal up my blood vessels, they gave my other eye a needle to dry up the blood vessel leakage. It was scary. My heart felt like it was going to come out of my chest. I couldn't process anything afterwards. The room was spinning and my body went numb.
Over time, I lost my ability to see vivid pigmentation, then lines and shapes of things started becoming distorted, then a chunk of my sight was gone, then another chunk. Eventually, all I could see was shades and vague shadows. I have become completely dependent on just one eye. Because of this, I'm unable to drive, I have no peripheral left vision, I hurt myself a lot, sometimes I can't see when someone is standing right next to me, and I have no perception of depth, which means I can't tell how close or far something is. So no more volleyball either. Even working has proven to be quite the struggle. As a workaholic, naturally, I DESPERATELY want to go back to work!
Fast forward, I have now underwent two surgeries, countless painful and vision-affecting injections, have seen more doctors than I could count on both hands, and have been to more doctors' appointments than I wish to acknowledge. All while managing and battling my menacing T1D (type 1 diabetes) This has become my new normal. I have been poked and prodded, I've smiled and I've cried. I've literally have had THOUSANDS of post-op eye drops and steroids put in my eye every hour, on the hour. Even spent small fortunes on second opinions out of the country and did eye-specific alternative medicine that helped with healing. But one thing I haven't done was given up and thats why I'm still here! And FINALLY MY RETINA IS ATTACHED!
NOW I NEED YOUR HELP GUYS.
So please! Help and bless me with a few minutes of your time!
Due to all of the medication, the previous surgery, and the heavy steroids I needed post-op, I have developed an extremely calcified lens that prevents me from knowing if my first two operations were a success. I was sent to a cataract surgeon who explained that I have astigmatism (which obstructs your vision) and lens calcification. He explained that because my eye has already gone through so much trauma and scarring, he strongly suggests fixing the astigmatism for less vision distortion and using laser-assisted precision for more surgical accuracy and less tissue scarring/eye trauma. My insurance will not cover it. I have spent thousands out of pocket just to stay afloat this complex journey. I could have my sight back by THIS MONTH but ONLY WITH YOUR HELP. Please please help me get my life back! I'll admit, I definitely can't do this alone. You're help would mean literally EVERYTHING!
Here is the cost breakdown:
LASER FACILITY COST: $450
PRE IOL w/ LASER FACILITY COST: $1,400
PHYSICIAN SURGICAL COST: $2,400
POST-OP iLux TREATMENT: $400
POST-OP 2-WEEK RECOVERY TREATMENT comes with a vision improvement guarantee(fingers crossed!): $4,100
The remainder would go funding fees, hosting fees, additional medications.
I want to squish my toes in the sand again as I try to block a spike, I want go jogging again with my dog Lulu and not miss a step on the pavement. I want to go for night walks again and be aware of my surroundings. I want to drive again with the wind in my hair with the speakers up and my sunglasses on. I want to sit on the beach and be able to watch the sunsets in all of their glory. I want to be able to see my Dad and my family's faces and smiles after we haven't seen each other in years. I want to work my catering shifts and production jobs again and not have the worry about the venue being too dark or the boss trying to send me out on a driving errand and not being able to deliver.
I just really want to get back to life and it would mean the world to me if you could help me get there! No amount is too small, $50, $20, even $10! I would literally be grateful for anything! Or Donate your time, donate a share! A share would also mean the world! I have one month. One month until the ball starts rolling, I'm nervous and scared but I am HOPEFUL about getting my life back. If I miss next month, I don't know when the surgeon can operate again because he is booked out for months. I would love more than anything to be able to see for my cousin's wedding. I don't want to miss anymore milestones!
The thing most people do first thing in the morning is open there eyes to mark the start of their day and I would love more than anything to be able to do the same. Not only will you guys be helping me get my quality of life back, you'd be helping me literally get my ENTIRE life back, and for that, I could NEVER be more grateful!
Organizer
Jasmine Arango
Organizer
Carteret, NJ