Many of you have read my recent updates. I've tried to keep my spirits up with some jokes / humor about my eye condition(s) and upcoming surgeries.
I am now on Ohio Medicaid and working through the necessary approvals required to pay for the care needed to restore my sight. But... Not all of the costs will be covered.
~
Here's the really, really short version. Both of my natural lenses are dangling by (literally) a string and have slid down off ⬇️ my eye. It would be as if your lenses in your glasses became unglued and were dangling a few inches below the frames. They cannot fix the structures that hold the natural lenses in place... so they will be cut out (Lensectomy) First, the right one on 10/4/16, then the left one 60-75 days later. *Most of THIS cost will be covered by insurance*
~
After the lenses are gone and 3-4 weeks of healing, they will measure me for new artificial lenses. These might be daily in/out or "lasered" in place - TBD, depending on what they find. There may be a total of 2, 3, or 4 surgeries in all. The new lenses to be custom made / fit because of the Keracotonus (my pupils are football-shaped). The new lenses and follow up visits will have some direct out of pocket costs not covered by Medicaid (and because the disease may progress further, I might even need new lenses over and over if my eyes degenerate further).
Many of you have most graciously helped me earlier. I raised a lot to get me this far. I am so very thankful for everyone's help to date.
I don't know what my total costs are going to be yet, but I'm estimating $5000 low to $7,500 on the very top end. I won't need to spend extra money until the lens fittings / follow up begins around 11/1 - 12/1 later this year.
Donations will only be used only for direct medical expenses for my eyes. My family is able to help take me to/from doctor appointments and I have food and a place to live.
If you can help by...
1) Donating $ anything.
2) Sharing my GoFundMe page
3) Encouraging words
Everything is appreciated! I'll do more updates, but this is maybe already TL:DR!
I am now on Ohio Medicaid and working through the necessary approvals required to pay for the care needed to restore my sight. But... Not all of the costs will be covered.
~
Here's the really, really short version. Both of my natural lenses are dangling by (literally) a string and have slid down off ⬇️ my eye. It would be as if your lenses in your glasses became unglued and were dangling a few inches below the frames. They cannot fix the structures that hold the natural lenses in place... so they will be cut out (Lensectomy) First, the right one on 10/4/16, then the left one 60-75 days later. *Most of THIS cost will be covered by insurance*
~
After the lenses are gone and 3-4 weeks of healing, they will measure me for new artificial lenses. These might be daily in/out or "lasered" in place - TBD, depending on what they find. There may be a total of 2, 3, or 4 surgeries in all. The new lenses to be custom made / fit because of the Keracotonus (my pupils are football-shaped). The new lenses and follow up visits will have some direct out of pocket costs not covered by Medicaid (and because the disease may progress further, I might even need new lenses over and over if my eyes degenerate further).
Many of you have most graciously helped me earlier. I raised a lot to get me this far. I am so very thankful for everyone's help to date.
I don't know what my total costs are going to be yet, but I'm estimating $5000 low to $7,500 on the very top end. I won't need to spend extra money until the lens fittings / follow up begins around 11/1 - 12/1 later this year.
Donations will only be used only for direct medical expenses for my eyes. My family is able to help take me to/from doctor appointments and I have food and a place to live.
If you can help by...
1) Donating $ anything.
2) Sharing my GoFundMe page
3) Encouraging words
Everything is appreciated! I'll do more updates, but this is maybe already TL:DR!
Organizer
Tim Robertson
Organizer
Clyde, OH