She Lost Her Sight To Diabetes And Now Her Friend Is Trying To Help Raise Money For Her Eye Surgery
Corinne Romero has organized a GoFundMe for her friend Jackie Marie’s “fight for sight.”
At only eleven years old, Marie was diagnosed with Type One Juvenile Diabetes. Since then, Marie has overcome disease-related challenges each year. Then, in November of 2020, Marie woke up with no vision in her left eye.
“After a visit to the retina doctor, it was determined she had developed diabetic retinopathy in both of her eyes,” Romero wrote.
This unfortunate news could not have come at a more inopportune time. Marie had just been laid off from her job due to the COVID-19 pandemic and did not have access to private healthcare.
So, the surgery was pushed back, and “in the meantime, the blood had cleared out of her central line of vision.”
Despite this challenge, Marie worked to earn her real estate license and began work in March. Still, her vision obstacles did not stop there.
“One day, while sitting at her desk, she lost vision in her other eye. After going to the doctor yet again, it was determined that she would need laser treatments every two weeks and shots in her eyes –– which amounted to over fifteen hundred dollars per treatment and six hundred dollars for the shots,” Romero said.
Marie’s family helped as much as they could and, after a few successful months in real estate, Marie decided to get health insurance. On July 18th, though, Marie lost vision in her right eye again.
GoFundMe; pictured above is Jackie Marie
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
“It was determined she would need surgery – a vitrectomy – to clear the existing blood and scar tissue and contain the future bleeds,” said Romero.
Again though, Marie encountered more vision complications. After an oil bubble was inserted into her eye to assist in retina healing, Marie developed eye pressure issues and symptoms of glaucoma.
“It took about three weeks post-surgery for her to return to work and slowly start driving again using her left eye. And, the oil bubble was scheduled to come out, which would require another surgery and more hospital visits/medical bills,” Romero explained, “However, after a routine checkup recently, it was determined that vision in her right eye may never return.”
Now, Marie is scheduled for another vitrectomy in order to remove the oil bubble, more scar tissue, and insert a gas bubble/a scleral buckle.
A scleral buckle is “hardware for the eye to hold the eye in place.”
“The success rate for surgery is broad– about fifty to ninety percent– but at any time, she may lose vision completely as her left eye is not healthy and also has this disease,” Romero said.
After the surgery, Marie will endure a long recovery process. As a real estate agent, her income is also variable since it is commission-based. Marie, Romero, and Marie’s family are all hopeful that the surgery will work this time around; but, it is still possible for her other eye to encounter the same issues.
Losing your vision is a life-altering event. As Marie battles through this tough time, the GoFundMe is meant to help relieve the financial burden of surgery, medical bills, and medication.
The fundraiser has just surpassed its ten thousand dollar goal, with donations and words of encouragement still pouring in.
“You have the strength and willpower; you are a strong woman,” wrote Rhonda and Vince Thome, who donated one hundred dollars.
“Jackie is family! I had cataracts removed from both eyes recently. It’s a blessing to get your vision back and I want her to enjoy her young life with perfect sight!” wrote Russ Medley, who also donated one hundred dollars.
“Jackie has helped me through some of the hardest times and I know she would give the shirt off her back for anyone,” Romero said in closing, “Thank you so much for your time and concern; let’s get her set up for a healthy recovery.”
If you would like to donate to Marie’s vision fight or stay updated on her journey, you can visit the GoFundMe here.
More About:Human Interest
Read This Next
