Unicorns and Tractors – Eye Surgery for Emily

I don’t just look up to my little sister Emily because she’s taller than me … She’s an amazing mother to my adorable niece who loves unicorns and my big-hearted nephew who loves tractors. She’s a goofball who can get you laughing until you snort (or she snorts, which is even funnier!). She’s a fighter who has dealt with auto-immune disease her whole life. Pain that would crumble most people, multiple hospital stays, continuous medicine … Emily takes it all with strength and grace (except when she’s snorting laughing of course, that’s not so graceful).

I am raising funds because my sister needs an eye surgery that will relieve her pain and save her deteriorating sight. Without it, she might not be able to SEE to watch them grow up.

Her auto immune diagnosis includes Sjorgens Syndrome, which predominantly affects women and has caused her extreme eye dryness. For nine years she has suffered burning, sensitivity, and headaches while trying to manage the symptoms. Unfortunately, she has been to many different specialists, exhausted every treatment option, and nothing is helping.

Funds raised will support Prokera surgical procedure that is not covered by her insurance. This surgery costs $3,000 and is her last hope not to lose eyesight. The good news? This surgery is not just stopping sight loss. The post-op prognosis is positive, with 88% of patients demonstrating improvement both eye surface scarring and dryness reduction.

From Emily: “It is so painful sometimes, it’s almost debilitating. I struggle everyday with daily life from work to taking care of kids, but I get it done.” As someone who has glasses but is otherwise healthy, I cannot imagine how difficult this chronic eye issue is for my sister just to exist – let alone work full time and raise her children. Give here or share with others. Send an ancouraging word for me to pass along. Let’s help her get her eyes healthy again so they can get back to unicorns and tractors. Thank you!