Help For Ashley’s Eye Surgery

At 2 years old, I had knee surgery before I was diagnosed with JRA  (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis). After my diagnosis, we learned that I had uveitis  as well (inflammation of the eyes). Uveitis is a condition, caused by my arthritis, that can lead to blindness. The medication that I was on for arthritis and uveitis, throughout my childhood, caused cataracts .

If I could paint you a picture of my childhood, I would definitely say that my parents tried. They tried to keep me comfortable and happy. My grandparents helped when my parents were unable, due to work. Some of the things that I went through with my condition:
- Knee surgery at 2 years old on my 2nd birthday
- Fever with flare ups
- Swollen joints and body aches
- Locked knee/ unable to straighten - Methotrexate  injections every Sunday night (form of chemo)
- Prednisone  Forte drops 2x daily 
- Naproxen + Motrin as needed
- Hair loss
- Weight gain from steroids
- Poor dental health
- Skin sores 
- Monthly eye exams
- Rheumatologist appointment every 3 months
- Nausea and vomiting 

and more...

After I hit puberty, I thought this nightmare was over. At 15, I was diagnosed with cataracts . Ever since, my nearsightedness has gotten worse and it had become increasingly difficult to special order contacts that fit my prescription and astigmatism. I require special lenses . I was also told that I’m allergic to contacts and began using a drop called Pataday, so that my contacts would stop ripping in my eyes. I can no longer afford to keep this up. My childhood often feels like a faint fever dream, filled with many sick days and in my adulthood, my body is just catching up to all of the medication that I was on. 

In May, we learned that there was an issue with the pressure in my eyes upon dilation. This was referred to as high iop, which I was told could be corrected with a laser. With my very high astigmatism, finding contacts that fit me is expensive and almost impossible. My nearsightedness is growing worse and I’ve lost peripheral vision in my left eye.

At 24 years old, I’m currently facing the loss of my license, due to my vision. Even with correction, I’m almost legally blind. I’ve been unable to drive since I was 18 years old and I was told that I had cataracts around 15 years old.

My surgery entails cataract removal, which Medicaid (my insurance) covers, and a refractive lens replacement, which is not covered by Medicaid. 

I want to have this surgery because I face blindness, otherwise. The cataract surgery alone will not correct the vision that has been lost, due to other issues. My dream is to support birthing people as a childbirth educator and a doula, I’m currently working towards my certification. My new vision loss makes transportation difficult. I run a Website  and a blog, have a YouTube  channel, and a Facebook  page. 

I have two children, Odessa and Delilah. Odessa is 1 and Delilah (Dee for short) is 5. Delilah (Dee for short) starts school in the fall and there’s lots of field trips and parent meet ups that we must attend! I have goals, a future, and children. Quite honestly, if I didn’t have children, I can’t even imagine having these goals or trying. I can’t pity myself, though. I want to do what I love and continue to be passionate about parenting and birth. I just need help. I tell folks all of the time that it’s alright to ask for help. 

I don’t like to ask for hand outs, I like to be the support. This is just becoming difficult and extremely anxiety inducing, as I’m afraid that I will wake up with no sight at all. This investment would go towards my future as a mother and a birth worker. I would love to regain my independence that I feel has been lost for years.

Many have asked to create a Go Fund Me, for me, but I felt uncomfortable. I wanted to look for grants and any sort of support that might be out there for low income moms. I found services for the blind, but was denied. Almost all of the grants that I’ve looked into, I don’t qualify for. This is either due to my age or condition. It has come to the point to where I need help and I don’t want anyone else to have to ask for help, for me. Any dollar amount is extremely appreciated and know that I’ll feel bad about every dollar raised, but it benefits my overall health and quality of life.

All of the proceeds of this will go to my eye fund and pay for my refractive lens surgery. If you would like to support and can’t donate, sharing goes a long way! I appreciate every bit of support that we can get. My kiddos need a mom that can not only keep them happy and healthy, but that can see, since some vision loss can be restored.

I really want to be able to give back in some sort of way. Much love to you all and thank you for supporting me!❤️