Johnathan Birkley Eye Surgery Fund
For anyone that knows Johnathan Birkley they know that he is an amazing young man. Johnathan is 11 years old and is active in several different sports. Johnathan enjoys playing football, basketball and most of all baseball. Johnathan is one of the top players on his baseball team and plays several different positions. Johnathan's main position is short stop and he also plays pitcher. His future dream is to be a MLB player.
On July 3rd, 2017 Johnathan was at a 4th of July party with his fellow baseball team mates when he was struck by a 16 shot firework that fell over and hit him in the face. Jonathan was sitting with his friends watching the adults light off the fireworks when he was struck. Doctors said he is lucky to have an eye and as of right now only has peripheral vision. Doctors in our area said he will never regain full vision. He has been diagnosed with Vitreous Hemorrhage and Macula Scar of Posterior Pole and Primary Iridocyclitis and a Retinal Hemorrhage. Johnathan's vision is currently 20/400 and he has no depth perception. For anyone who has ever played Baseball knows that depth perception is very important.
Travis and Sarah recently took Jonathan to 3 Doctors around this area that have no hope in helping Johnathan. On Wednesday July 19th they went to Sioux Falls, SD and all of the information was sent to Duke Eye Institute in North Carolina and Cincinnati Eye Institute in Ohio. Cincinnati is able to get Johnathan in August 1st for a preliminary evaluation and possibly surgery at that time, however the family will have to make several trips to Cincinnati. Cincinnati Eye Institute feels very confident that they will be able to help Johnathan regain close to full vision. The Doctor who would perform the surgery is one of the top Eye Surgeons in America.
The Surgery alone will cost over $200,000 and the families insurance will only cover some of that amount because the Doctor is considered Out of Network. However, the family wants to stick with him because of his reputation. The family will also be making several trips to Cincinnati including some over night stays. Anyone who knows Travis knows that he is not one to ask for any help. Which is why I am setting up this Go Fund Me account to help them with any of the expenses.
Anything helps so please help!!! Johnathan is very concerned about the Doctors telling him that Baseball will be his hardest sport to play. Travis and Sarah do not want Johnathan to let go of his dreams of being a MLB player so they will go to any extent to make his dreams come true. So please help the family in any way you can.
