Support Joe's Eye Surgery and Recovery

Hey y'all...

My name is Cindy Eley. This for my husband Joe... Joey... ya know, the "Big Guy". We are looking to get help with expenses. His insurance just started January 1st so the deductible is nowhere near met. Also not sure that a prosthetic will be covered. On Monday February 24th he is having a Enucleation of his right eye with implant, muscles attached to implant and a temporary closure/revision of eye lid. Yes, he is having his eye removed.

Most of you know, or you may not know. Joey has zero "0". nada, NO vision in his right eye. You can not tell just by looking at him, especially if you do not know. But, it's true and now all of these years later it has become a problem.

Back in 2017, he was having some issues with floaters. We went to the Dr. and set up a procedure to go in and break the floaters with a laser. So, he did that and when the Dr. went in, there was a teeny tear in the retina that he repaired at the same time. The following week, there was something very wrong because half of his vision was gone. We went back to Dr. and he said there must be a "bubble of fluid" that formed over his vision and he would need to go back in to release that fluid. Surgery #2... the Dr. came to the waiting room with a perplexed look on his face and took a deep breath only to tell me that it was not fluid, that the retina had detached 100%!! So he reattached it. We went back for follow up and still no vision. Of course I'm thinking wtf?!! Surgery #3, #4, #5...still no luck. The stubborn retina will not stay in place. Oh, and in between those surgeries, he had another surgery because the Dr. caused a cataract! He told us that there was nothing else he could do. Now he is blind in that eye for the rest of his life. Sad to say the least.

After having 6-7 surgeries, we of course got a second opinion. That Dr. said that if it was him or his family member, he would do no more surgeries to "try" to get his vision back. Fact, if you did not know that the more surgery you have on one thing/place it builds scar tissue. He told us that it if he tried another surgery, it most likely would not work and could cause permanent pain. He was blind but not having pain at that time.

The past couple months, he has been having excruciating pain that goes from his eye to the back of his head. We went to a new Dr... What has now happened is due that eye being "non functioning", his eye is shriveling and causing pain. He has tried pain drops but they nor pain meds have touched the pain at all. The only way to stop it is to have the eye removed so that is what we are doing.

Here is the long process...This surgery will take 3-4 hours. It's outpatient. Bandage comes off on day #3, post op on day #7 at which time the stitches will be removed from sewing the eyelid closed. After this it will take 8 weeks to fully heal. We will then meet with the prosthetic people for his new eye. They will be able to match his other eye nearly identical. It will move just like his left eye. The only difference is that the pupil will be fixed.

To add insult to injury, he has been diagnosed with glaucoma in the left eye...WAY to young at his ripe age of 55 to be dealing with this already. I personally am devastated. He is doing ok and ready to be out of pain. Donations will be very appreciated. We could also use the biggest prayers sent our way.

Thank you!!