Help me see again!

My name is Rachel Cook. I am 23 years old and have been diagnosed with a rare eye disease called Stargardt's macular degeneration. It causes central vision loss and without treatment eventually leads to blindness. There is currently no cure for Stargardt's in the United States. I have found a world renowned eye doctor in Turkey that can cure my disease. This is not covered under my health insurance and with all the added costs of the treatment, travel, lodging, etc., I am unable to afford to travel to Turkey to restore my vision. Therefore, I am starting this Go Fund Me page in an effort to ask for your assistance to help me get to Turkey so I can see again! Living with Stargardt's has impacted many aspects of my life. Not only do I have the physical impairment, but I also suffer from the mental and emotional pain that comes with not being able to see. I am unable to recognize faces, therefore I rely on listening to their voices or paying attention to their mannerisms so that I know who I am talking to. I try to live my life to the fullest by doing the things I love such as exercising, listening to music, and being around family and friends. However, as my disease progresses, it becomes more difficult for me to do any of these things. I would love to be able to go to college and make a great life for myself, however I am becoming more and more limited by this debilitating disease.

I would greatly appreciate any donation to help me get to Turkey for this curative treatment!

Thank you so much!!!! Rachel Cook