Save my Best Friend from complete Blindness

Hi, my name is Jennifer and I'm helping raise money for my Best Friend of over 30 years, Bekah. She needs surgery that has now become a MUST vs a possibility. A surgery that could mean continued sight or becoming completely blind; but there are no other options left. The initial cost is $2500 plus her husband will need to be off work for several days to stay with her out of town and also the cost of the hotel stay. This may seem like a small amount to some but would be extremely huge to Bekah and her family.

Bekah has been in and out of doctor's offices since she was little due to issues with her eyes. With already extremely poor vision at such a young age she experienced a tragic accident at 10 years old when she was hit in the face with a football on the school playground, causing her to lose complete sight in her left eye. In less than a year she had 4 surgeries and had to get a fake eye at 11 years old. Considering she already had very poor vision, now being down to one eye that she could barely see out of seemed like an impossible fate but Bekah is so strong and resilient. To me, she is a walking miracle considering she has never given up and has always done things over the years, that even eye doctors can't believe she does but she has learned to live with her one eye and enjoy life. She has 2 beautiful daughters and a loving husband who is also a devoted law enforcement officer. Back in 2020, Bekah was pulled from teaching due to her health and has been fighting for disability over the past few years. They have been able to manage as a family but with her continued health issues and now an eye surgery that can't be put off any longer, I'm asking for HELP for my best friend and one of the most loving and giving people you will ever meet.

The below is something Bekah posted after her appointment in June and her words have always stuck with me. I hope you read her words and her back story and find it in your heart to help her and her family with this surgery and pray for success and eyesight.

"I cried for half a second. Literally a few tears escaped before I thought “what good will crying do?!” It would only give me a headache I don’t want and solve absolutely nothing. My mind is working a million thoughts a minute though. There’s always been an expiration date on my vision though it’s remained elusive and unknown. Doctors can’t even decide how I “function at all” with the limited vision and issues I have. Every time the next thing develops they are even more at a loss of how I continue to do so well. Now I’m left wondering when does it end? How long do I have? I have SO MUCH I want to see still! So much to do. If I had the money I’d book cruises, trips abroad and a nationwide adventure to see as much as I can. Michael’s uncle who was born blind had the conversation with me once, “what’s worse, never seeing at all or seeing and having that taken from you?” He said the latter while I said the former. “At least when someone says “tree” after I go blind, I’ll know what “tree” is! I’ll know red! I’ll know forest, ocean, dog, grass, what loved ones looked like!” He vehemently disagreed saying “I have nothing to miss because you can’t miss what you never knew”. I didn’t agree at the time thinking how much worse it was for him, but now I’m not so sure. Staring it in the face now, I understand what he means".

Back Story:

Back in June of this year Bekah had an appointment with the glaucoma specialist. The cataract that started forming around 5-6 years ago, which was originally thought wouldn’t likely affect her for 10-15 years has now become a major issue. Not only is it a cataract, but it’s a posterior cataract as well as anterior. Meaning it’s affected the inside of the eye as well as the surface. The cataract is causing the eye angles to close off which is why her eye pressure has been so high and the only thing stabilizing has been glaucoma eye drops. His suggestion was surgery to remove the cataract as well as her lens which would help improve her vision to a -29 or -30 instead of the -33 as it is now. This may not seem much but it will buy Bekah more time with her sight if the surgery is successful and relieve the pressure that's been giving her so much grief. This is a "common" surgery but not for Bekah's eye, this is a very dangerous surgery. The glaucoma specialist and her retinal specialist agreed on who they felt was the best of the best in cataract surgery and she would see that specialist in August. At that time, they will all consult to determine if they feel the risk is necessary to proceed with the removal.

Fast forward to today, 8/14/23, and that appointment has now come and gone with news that would leave anyone with gut-wrenching fear and anxiety. Bekah HAS TO HAVE cataract surgery. The doctor was blunt and to the point saying the surgery will either work and improve her vision a small amount or she will GO BLIND. He said, "I’m good at what I do but I’m not God”. The cataract is “very large” and the glaucoma is getting worse, even with drops her pressure was high today. This is a “routine procedure” for majority of the people who have it but it is absolutely NOT routine for Bekah. It is extremely high risk and there is a very good possibility her retina could be compromised costing the loss of her vision.