Main fundraiser photo

Dr. Lauderdale Aniridia Project

Lauren's Heroes Inc is a non-profit (501c3) that we started to honor our daughter Lauren Calvo who was born with Aniridia and Glaucoma.

You can learn about more about these diseases by viewing our website at www.laurensheroes.org

We are focused on raising money for research while supporting children and adults with vision impairments through advocacy.

Today we are supporting Dr. Lauderdales research project because he is very close to finding the answer to how the PAX6 gene (that Lauren was born mutated) is playing a very important role in maintaining the cornea.  This could give us answers as to why her corneas are deteriorating so quickly.  

*More details about his project are also on our website.

Lauren was born with Aniridia/Glaucoma unbeknown to all the genetic testing I went through during pregnamcy because no one in our families every had this syndrome.   It then went undetected in the hospital by any doctor that examined her because pediatricians are not trained properly to look for these indications.  

She then came home and ater 6 weeks of having a very unhappy baby unless she was eating (did she get chunky!).  We started to reside at the fact that maybe she was colic, until one day she woke from her nap with her left eye as blue as the sky.  

After a journey of many doctors and trips to Boston, NYC, and Philadelphia it was clear that the choice we had to make was surgery.  Many surgeries.

Lauren to date has had 17 surgeries and has three tubes in her eyes called Ahmed seton valves.  These valves keep the flow of fluid pressure moving so it does not build up on her optic nerve and cause damage.

She is checked at least every two months for eye fluid pressure, optic nerve pressure, eye acuity (vision), and cornea covering.  It has progressed greatly and she is in need of this research to move quickly.

 Yes, Lauren wears glasses but they do not actually do anything to "correct" her vision.  Honestly she wears them more to protect her eyes from foreign objects.  Her eyes would not heal like ours if something were to get in them so until she complain about wearing them, we will continue to have her wear them.

Right now we pray and know, that it is all in God's hands. We want her to continue to"see" the beautiful world he created and the smile on our faces. 

So we ask you for your help and the work of these researchers to please donate on behalf of Lauren and others like her so she will NEVER LIVE IN DARKNESS!

Thank you from the bottom of your hearts!

Kim and Tom Calvo 
and all of Lauren's Heroes!
Donate

Donations 

  • Rowena Saunders
    • $25 
    • 6 yrs
Donate

Organizer

Kim Binder Calvo
Organizer
Staten Island, NY
CHILDRENS GLAUCOMA FOUNDATION INC
 
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.