Hello all! We need help for Mike!

In 2015-2016 Hashmatullah Matie (aka Mike) was my interpreter in Afghanistan. He was a phenomenal asset to our Army Special Forces Team, translating speech and written documents between us and our Afghan counterpart units. He performed amazing both in combat and in administrative roles. Mike and his family became American citizens and moved to the United States in 2017, resettling in California. He worked for Toyota and Apple, while also driving for Uber. Mike and his family had made it and he felt very blessed to have become an American.

Unfortunately, in the Fall of 2022 Mike's vision began to deteriorate. His eyesight eventually became so impaired that he could no longer drive or work a job. Mike sought out help across the nation, eventually being seen at the Tschannen Eye Institute, University of California-Davis Health System.

UC-Davis Hospital has diagnosed Mike with Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. There are no reasonable treatments in the United States for Mike to pursue, and it was advised to him to look for international options. In January of 2023 Mike traveled to India to the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi. Here he met with Dr. Seth L. Rajender, MBBS, MS, DOMS. He was given various non-invasive treatment options, these included eyedrops and oral medications. Mike stayed 3 weeks and returned to the United States. Despite the treatment given, Mikes vision has not improved. The staff at the Apollo Ophthalmology Center have advised that Mike’s next course of action should be to return and conduct more invasive treatment options, with the possibility of surgery. Mikes funds were depleted from his first trip over and although they want him to return its going to be a financial challenge.

Please help us in raising money for the costs of surgery, medications, and logistical expenses of making this happen. With your help, we can do it.

Many thanks,

- Dustin Dieter