On May 10, 2025, my husband Jamie had an accident while working on his vehicle that involved a piece of a hammer breaking off and going into his eyeball. The injury was very severe, and he was transported to Winston-Salem for emergency surgery. After he went home, they discussed how they want him to have weekly visits, which is a 4-hour trip for us, and I do not mind because it is a great place to be seen, and I feel like he is getting the best care there.

We went for his first follow-up appointment and got not-so-great news. During the ultrasound, we were told that he has retinal detachment, which can be repaired but will require a minimum of 3 to 4 surgeries and a corneal transplant. Even after that, he has a 40 percent chance of it working, or he can choose to let the retina shrivel up and go completely blind. As of right now, he is saying he does not want to go through with it due to time missed at work and putting us through that financially, but I have tried to explain that money should not be the factor in why he makes that decision.

All of that being said, Jamie and I work two jobs apiece, and we have eight children between us and don't receive any kind of assistance whatsoever, so it takes both of our jobs to provide for us. Any time missed at work hurts badly. My husband has returned to work, and even though he has done so, there are still days missed at work, copays with our insurance for weekly trips to the doctor's, travel expenses, and prescriptions. My husband did not want me to make this because this simply isn't us to ask for help, and it honestly makes us feel bad, but at the same time, I want him to see we will be okay for him to take time to have the procedures done and that the cost will be covered or at least helped with because honestly, I don't know the costs of a corneal transplant, retinal detachment surgery, etc., but just the copay of the weekly visits and prescriptions is very pricey, plus the time missed at work.

I see miracles happening every day where people have less of a chance of survival and beat all odds, and even though there's a 40 percent chance of all those procedures working, it's still something I feel he should try. If told at the end it didn't work, at least he will have tried. Ultimately, it is his decision, and I will support whatever he chooses, but again, I'm hoping if he sees the support and help, he will choose to give it his all like he does with everything else. If no one can help, I completely understand because we are all trying to simply survive, but I will ask that everyone at least keeps Jamie and our family in your thoughts and prayers through this.

Any and all funds will be used to cover any and all medical costs, travel expenses, prescriptions, etc.