My name is Katie. My husband, Patrick, is in urgent need of a cornea transplant. The surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, April 15th.

In late January, Patrick noticed his left eye was very red, and he felt like he had something in it and was extremely sensitive to light. Over the course of the next week, he flushed his eye, used eye drops, and there was no improvement. Around the 8th day, a white spot appeared on his pupil. It was at that point I convinced him it was time to see a doctor.

The first doctor we saw knew right away Patrick had a corneal ulcer, and it was an emergency. He got us scheduled with a cornea specialist the following morning. Since he began treatment with the specialist, he has had numerous eye drops every 2 hours, taken oral antibiotics, and has had his eye “de-bulked” on more than one occasion. The pain he has experienced has been tremendous. He has no vision in his left eye currently.

Despite 60 days of treatment, the fungus that caused the ulcer has continued to grow and is getting dangerously close to the point of him losing his eye altogether.

In order to get rid of the fungus, they need to remove the damaged cornea, clean out the fungus, and replace the cornea with donor tissue.

The treatment up to this point and the surgery are all out-of-pocket expenses. Patrick does not have insurance, but I promise that beginning January 2026, that will change.

The total cost of the surgery is $8500 and is due before the surgery day. For the first 12 months following surgery, he will have numerous medications that he will take daily to help his body not reject the new tissue, as well as frequent follow-ups.

This request is out of my comfort zone, but we need financial help in order to attempt to save his eye. We could also use prayers, positive thoughts, and a little luck sent our way.

Love,

Katie