Help Sarah Restore Her Vision
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Sarah is a member of Eat The Frog Fitness where I am a coach. I have always admired her.!!! While juggling a busy life and career and motherhood she still always shows up for herself for a work out even at the craziest time like 4 AM. She is going through some thing I cannot imagine and I wanted to offer her some support. The only thing I knew I could do to help is to put her story out into the world to see who could help her to raise the funds she needs to have a very necessary surgery to restore her vision. Please consider joining in supporting Sarah and helping this Go Fund Me raise the money required for her to receive her surgery.
From Sarah:
I’m not ever sure there comes a point in our lives where we truly are grateful for our health. It’s not until something is wrong or needs fixing that we appreciate the human body and all of its miracles. I never wore glasses growing up, in fact it wasn’t until my late twenties that I went to get a mild prescription lens for what seemed to be nearsightedness.... I wore the same minimal prescription lens for over 10 years.... 3 years ago i noticed my need for a stronger lens.. Maybe it’s the UV light I always use at work or my green eyes in the Florida sun, but I needed to see more clear.... for those of you that wear corrective lenses, by my late thirties I was a -3.25 in both eyes. Last February I began adding reading glasses to help see menus and small print while i searched for a new Optometrist.... I found one and was immediately given a new prescription for glasses -5.75.... and everything was great for about 6 months. That’s when i tried to pick up a piece of floss to help one of my team members and realized I was having double vision. In fact, i couldn’t see farther than 6 inches in front of me with or without a corrective lens. Traffic lights appeared like a kaleidoscope of bright colors and seeing a TV, computer monitor or anything digital seemed impossible.. to put it into perspective, even with glasses, i could no longer see anything on the large screens in the studio, let alone my heart rate information... I scheduled a visit into my eye doctor and she immediately referred me to an Optic neurologist. My optic nerve was inflamed and she was worried. My vision within 1 year was now -11.75 and I couldn’t see any clearer than I could with my current prescription. I was referred to Dr Steedle who diagnosed me with severe cataracts needing immediate surgery.. At 42 this is not common, however it is still a routine procedure when completed with a laser. I was immediately seen by Dr Pappas with Florida Eye Clinic and i was ready to get scheduled. Not only is my career at jeopardy but I no longer am able to drive. I have lost nearly all vision in my right eye, majority in my left and I no longer have spatial awareness. So i can’t determine how close i am to an object or person. Walking up and down stairs is very difficult because I am unsure if I am touching the step or not until I physically feel it. Being a single mother with 3 children who rely on me is challenging without being able to function at work or home. It has been a huge challenge setting appointments and seeking additional opinions. I have even made appointments in Melbourne however, surgical dates are now booking out to September... My out of pocket cost is $10,000 with Florida Eye Clinic and they only offer a 6 month payment option. As of May, i will no longer hold a drivers license if I cannot have the surgery completed in both eyes: it’s devastating to explain to my kids that I can see and it’s very dangerous not only for me, but to others as well. Thankfully my employer has been allowing me to work and compete the tasks I can, however my hours have been reduced to 4 days since i can no longer complete the tasks I was able with my full vision. Any help is appreciated, including referrals and recommendations. Don’t take your eyes for granted, they are so essential. Hoping to SEE all of your faces soon....
From Sarah:
I’m not ever sure there comes a point in our lives where we truly are grateful for our health. It’s not until something is wrong or needs fixing that we appreciate the human body and all of its miracles. I never wore glasses growing up, in fact it wasn’t until my late twenties that I went to get a mild prescription lens for what seemed to be nearsightedness.... I wore the same minimal prescription lens for over 10 years.... 3 years ago i noticed my need for a stronger lens.. Maybe it’s the UV light I always use at work or my green eyes in the Florida sun, but I needed to see more clear.... for those of you that wear corrective lenses, by my late thirties I was a -3.25 in both eyes. Last February I began adding reading glasses to help see menus and small print while i searched for a new Optometrist.... I found one and was immediately given a new prescription for glasses -5.75.... and everything was great for about 6 months. That’s when i tried to pick up a piece of floss to help one of my team members and realized I was having double vision. In fact, i couldn’t see farther than 6 inches in front of me with or without a corrective lens. Traffic lights appeared like a kaleidoscope of bright colors and seeing a TV, computer monitor or anything digital seemed impossible.. to put it into perspective, even with glasses, i could no longer see anything on the large screens in the studio, let alone my heart rate information... I scheduled a visit into my eye doctor and she immediately referred me to an Optic neurologist. My optic nerve was inflamed and she was worried. My vision within 1 year was now -11.75 and I couldn’t see any clearer than I could with my current prescription. I was referred to Dr Steedle who diagnosed me with severe cataracts needing immediate surgery.. At 42 this is not common, however it is still a routine procedure when completed with a laser. I was immediately seen by Dr Pappas with Florida Eye Clinic and i was ready to get scheduled. Not only is my career at jeopardy but I no longer am able to drive. I have lost nearly all vision in my right eye, majority in my left and I no longer have spatial awareness. So i can’t determine how close i am to an object or person. Walking up and down stairs is very difficult because I am unsure if I am touching the step or not until I physically feel it. Being a single mother with 3 children who rely on me is challenging without being able to function at work or home. It has been a huge challenge setting appointments and seeking additional opinions. I have even made appointments in Melbourne however, surgical dates are now booking out to September... My out of pocket cost is $10,000 with Florida Eye Clinic and they only offer a 6 month payment option. As of May, i will no longer hold a drivers license if I cannot have the surgery completed in both eyes: it’s devastating to explain to my kids that I can see and it’s very dangerous not only for me, but to others as well. Thankfully my employer has been allowing me to work and compete the tasks I can, however my hours have been reduced to 4 days since i can no longer complete the tasks I was able with my full vision. Any help is appreciated, including referrals and recommendations. Don’t take your eyes for granted, they are so essential. Hoping to SEE all of your faces soon....
Organizer
Erika Greene
Organizer
Maitland, FL