My six-year-old son Benjamin is facing a long recovery after a devastating eye injury. On May 5, 2026, Benjamin was playing outside watching neighborhood kids on a recently fallen tree when another child aggressively rocked the dead tree. Benjamin was in its path, and a tree branch punctured his eye instantly, causing a ruptured globe.

He was first taken to Kaweah Delta Hospital in Visalia and then transported to Community Regional Medical Center, where he underwent a five-hour surgery to repair his ruptured eye and save his eye. Since then, Benjamin has already been through four procedures and two major surgeries. On September 3, he had another four-hour surgery in Palo Alto that included a scleral buckle procedure, followed by a three-day stay for surgery and follow-up care. This has been a long and expensive road for our family, and Benjamin is still in recovery.

This injury has affected so much more than Benjamin's health. He missed about a month and a half of school last year and will be missing more school as he continues to recover. It has also left him shy and insecure around other children. As his mom, I am doing everything I can to keep encouraging him and supporting him through each step of this journey.

Because Benjamin's care is ongoing, the costs do not stop after one hospital visit. Support will help us keep up with the repeated travel and supplies his recovery requires over time, including hotel stays, gas for trips from Visalia to Palo Alto, Fresno, or Los Angeles Children's Hospital, and medical supplies like eye shields, pain medicine for travel, tape, and cotton for his eye shields.

If you are able, please consider making a recurring donation to help with Benjamin's ongoing travel and recovery needs in the weeks and months ahead. A one-time donation would also mean so much to our family. Every gift and every share helps us continue getting Benjamin the care he needs. Thank you for supporting Benjamin's journey to recovery and helping us fight to save his eye.