Help Samantha See The World Before It's Too Late
Donation protected
My daughter Samantha is a bright and beautiful 17 year old Junior in High School. Due to an autoimmune disease she is losing her vision. There is no cure and no treatment for the disease. Everyday she wakes up with the very real possibility that another "flare" could happen, and ultimately this could be the one that takes her vision away completely. I am creating this gofundme page to help her see the world while she still can.
She has a few top "bucket list" locations she would like to see, and adventures she would like to have. Your donation will help her to experience these in a way right now that might not be possible for her at some point in the very near future.
Here is her story.
When Samantha was 9 years old she became sick very suddenly and lost complete vision in her right eye with what would later be diagnosed as optic neuritis. At the time she was hospitalized and given a round of both IV and oral steroids to help combat the swelling which was causing the vision loss. Over time the complete blindness in the eye went away, but she was left with a portion of permanent vision loss in that eye. She didn't let this disability stop her and has never asked for any allowances because of it. In June of 2017 she had another smaller relapse of optic neuritis, followed by a larger episode in February of 2018 of neuro-retinitis. Then another smaller optic-neuritis flare in October 2018. The saddest part for her was that these latest occurrences affected her left eye, the one that did not have the vision loss. These newest occurrences meant that something was very wrong with her auto immune system, and we could not ignore the very real possibility that at some point she could wake up with permanent and complete blindness that would not reverse. That is a pretty steep wake-up call for a young teenager. She is of course scared about this possibility, but has faced her challenges with both grace and gumption.
As someone intimately associated with pain, loss and grief at such a young age, Sam has used this to fuel her desire to help others. She is not afraid to reach out to those who are also suffering for whatever reason.
She has missed a lot of school these past few years due to her illness, but ended the last school year being inducted into the National Honor Society. I have never been more proud as I was that night watching her being included into this service minded group of scholars her Principal labeled the, "Best of the Best."
Our family has been diligent in making sure she receives proper medical care and have sought out specialists, courses of treatment and advice from all areas of both traditional and non traditional medicine.
She has undergone painful testing and rounds of grueling steroids in the course of her illness. We are committed to continue searching out all avenues to help her get the best care we can.
As her mother I wish that our roles could be reversed and it were me going through these health battles, but since I can't take her challenges for her, I can definitely help to give her the best life possible. This includes helping her to find joy amidst struggles.
If Samantha's story has touched you and you wish to donate, thank you. All money will go entirely to her. First for her traveling adventures, and then anything additional will be added to her next adventure, college!
P.S. I am a blogger and if you like to read a little more about Sam's story, you can visit here: https://jenerallyinformed.com/2018/11/i-want-to-see-you-be-brave/
She has a few top "bucket list" locations she would like to see, and adventures she would like to have. Your donation will help her to experience these in a way right now that might not be possible for her at some point in the very near future.
Here is her story.
When Samantha was 9 years old she became sick very suddenly and lost complete vision in her right eye with what would later be diagnosed as optic neuritis. At the time she was hospitalized and given a round of both IV and oral steroids to help combat the swelling which was causing the vision loss. Over time the complete blindness in the eye went away, but she was left with a portion of permanent vision loss in that eye. She didn't let this disability stop her and has never asked for any allowances because of it. In June of 2017 she had another smaller relapse of optic neuritis, followed by a larger episode in February of 2018 of neuro-retinitis. Then another smaller optic-neuritis flare in October 2018. The saddest part for her was that these latest occurrences affected her left eye, the one that did not have the vision loss. These newest occurrences meant that something was very wrong with her auto immune system, and we could not ignore the very real possibility that at some point she could wake up with permanent and complete blindness that would not reverse. That is a pretty steep wake-up call for a young teenager. She is of course scared about this possibility, but has faced her challenges with both grace and gumption.
As someone intimately associated with pain, loss and grief at such a young age, Sam has used this to fuel her desire to help others. She is not afraid to reach out to those who are also suffering for whatever reason.
She has missed a lot of school these past few years due to her illness, but ended the last school year being inducted into the National Honor Society. I have never been more proud as I was that night watching her being included into this service minded group of scholars her Principal labeled the, "Best of the Best."
Our family has been diligent in making sure she receives proper medical care and have sought out specialists, courses of treatment and advice from all areas of both traditional and non traditional medicine.
She has undergone painful testing and rounds of grueling steroids in the course of her illness. We are committed to continue searching out all avenues to help her get the best care we can.
As her mother I wish that our roles could be reversed and it were me going through these health battles, but since I can't take her challenges for her, I can definitely help to give her the best life possible. This includes helping her to find joy amidst struggles.
If Samantha's story has touched you and you wish to donate, thank you. All money will go entirely to her. First for her traveling adventures, and then anything additional will be added to her next adventure, college!
P.S. I am a blogger and if you like to read a little more about Sam's story, you can visit here: https://jenerallyinformed.com/2018/11/i-want-to-see-you-be-brave/
Organizer
Jennifer Elledge Humphries
Organizer
Tucson, AZ
