Please Support Angela With the Gift of Restored Vision

Angela’s vision began to diminish back in 2008. Since then she has been on a roller coaster journey of learning to navigate as a legally blind person to the recent hope of having her vision restored.

Angela and I, Jenny Lemire, have been best friends for 28 years. I remember the day she called and expressed her concerns about her vision. She described that the initial symptoms included seeing “starbursts around vehicle headlight’s” and “halos around light fixtures. I could hear the fear in her voice when she described that her vision eventually worsened to the point that it “was as if she is looking out of blurry, thick, foggy windshield”.

Shortly after, Angela completed an examination with a Seattle based corneal specialist who stated that she has inflammation of the corneas and diagnosed Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy (Fuchs). This doctor recommended removing her corneas and replacing them with donors. Following careful consideration and research, Angela decided not to proceed with the surgery due to the potential complications (including high rejection rate and two-year healing recovery time).

As Angela continued to explore options, she was examined by another corneal specialist, based in Boston, Mass, who practiced a less invasive surgery called DSEK. This doctor concurred that Angela had corneal inflammation. However, this doctor also advised that it was not Fuchs and was not able to provide an official diagnosis.

Angela was self-employed as a professional House Cleaner and did not have health insurance. Furthermore, due to her impaired vision, she was not able to see the details required to clean her customer’s homes thoroughly and efficiently. Consequently, she was laid off by some of them. She did not have the means to have the DSEK surgery.

Angela was also no longer able to drive. She expressed that this loss was one of the most difficult things to accept in regards to her independence. Yet it also prompted her to face the emotional and mental challenges of vision loss, along with the practical ramifications.

In 2012, shortly after Angela met her life partner, she was encouraged by her life partner, mother, and I to apply and participate in the Washington Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) program. The DSB taught Angela to learn how to live with a visual impairment. She studied basic braille, completed mobility training, and learned how to use assistive technology, among other objectives. She gained confidence from the training and, with the support from her DSB counselor, she returned to school and earned a Bachelor’s of Applied Behavioral Science in December of 2019.

Due to the pandemic, it was difficult for her to find employment, let alone find an employer that would provide accommodations. However, in the fall of 2020, she was hired to work temporarily for The Washington Employment Security Department.

Then, in the spring of 2021, she secured employment as a Vocational Rehabilitation Technician with the Washington Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). DVR provides the accommodations she needs to perform her required job duties.

Angela is very happy to work in a field that allows her to give back to others who have differing abilities venture to regain levels of independence, and eventual employment. She is also thankful to work in a supportive work environment highlighted by her kind and supportive co-workers and supervisor.

Angela works two days from home, but is required to commute three times a week by bus-ferry-bus-light rail-and bus, from Bremerton to North Seattle (the DVR office in Bremerton was not hiring).

Although this is roughly a total of 4 hours in commute time, she believes it was meant for her to work in the North Seattle DVR office. For, she met a co-worker who just so happened to have Fuchs and who’s vision was restored by DMEK surgeries. (In short, DMEK surgery includes replacing the corneas endothelium cells with donors).

Angela was inspired by her co-worker’s experience and, for the first time in several years, she felt hopeful regarding the possibility of having her sight restored.

The co-worker informed her of a renowned, corneal specialist, Dr. Price, who has a high DMEK surgery success rate. So, last fall, Angela and her partner travelled to Indianapolis to complete a consultation. Dr. Price informed her that she was a candidate for the surgery. However, he did not confirm an official diagnosis other than letting her know that it was not Fuchs.

Dr. Price advised to plan on staying in Indianapolis for two weeks (for post-surgery follow-up care/appointments, to address any potential complications, and to ensure it is safe to subject her eye to the cabin air pressure on the flight back to Washington).

It is highly recommended to have separate surgeries for each eye. So, naturally she was concerned that having the surgeries in Indianapolis would mean doubling the expenses of airfare, lodging, food, and transportation (and out of pocket medical). Yet, she went ahead and scheduled surgery for one of her eyes (which would have taken place in April 2024). Her intention was to have the second surgery several months later.

Angela soon joined a support group for persons who have Fuchs and similar cornea related eye conditions. She shared her story, and was informed of a corneal specialist whose practice is in Portland Oregon, Dr. Terry.

Angela was excited about the possibility of having the surgeries much closer to home. She and her partner visited Dr. Terry in February 2024. Dr. Terry was kind and patient, and diagnosed her with Posterior Polymorphous Corneal Dystrophy (a condition that is even rarer than Fuchs). Angela is relieved, that after 16 years, she finally has an official diagnosis.

Angela believes in her heart that having Dr. Terry perform the surgeries is the next step in her journey and that a higher power and the universe will provide.

Angela’s first surgery is scheduled for May 28th 2024. She intends on having the second surgery sometime in August or September of 2024.

If all goes well, she will need one month’s recovery time per surgery. During the recovery periods’ she will have a decrease in her income.

Angela is requesting a total of $8000.00 to assist with expenses related to the two eye surgeries. This includes gas for two round trips of travel from Bremerton to Portland, lodging, food, and out of pocket medical expenses for both eye surgeries.

Angela and her life partner worked together to compose this summary of her journey. On behalf of the three of us, please accept our heartfelt gratitude for your prayers, contributions, and/or shares.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Lemire, Angela’s Best Friend and Go Fund Me Host.