My Brush With Life

I just got this email in regards to my eye condition, Keratoconus.

“Dr. Boxer Wachler reviewed your records, and thinks that you would be a good candidate for the following: Holcomb C3R Crosslinking System in both eyes to help halt the progression of Keratoconus; this is anticipated to be a one-time treatment. However, approximately 1% of the patients will have a second treatment for full benefit. This procedure will help save your eyesight, and help prevent the need for a corneal transplant. Ideally, patients should seek this treatment as early as possible. INTACS in the left eye to help improve the cornea shape and reduce the steepness of the cone, thus improving quality of vision and comfort in contact lenses. We have successfully treated many Keratoconus patients from all over the world, to help them stabilize their corneas and improve quality of vision. Most importantly we have helped them avoid the invasive cornea transplant.

Exam              $395 (also includes book on Keratoconus by Dr. Boxer Wachler)

INTACS         $4450/left eye

C3-R               $3350/per eye

 In addition to these fees, patients would need to be prepared to purchase all necessary prescriptions. Typically prescriptions can vary from $80-$300 (depending on the recommended treatments after the initial exam).

Typically, the set up for the appointments are as follows:

Day 1 – Initial exam with Dr. Brian and technicians for testing and measurements to confirm procedure candidacy

Day 2 – Procedure day; if you’re a candidate for more than one procedure in the same eye, they can be done on the same day

Day 3 – One day postop exam before going back home”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Isn’t it great?! I’m excited and terrified. I have great hope that this is the answer to my prayers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         All of us here in the Beitler home hope that all our friends and family will convert all the amazing emotional and spiritual support you've given in to some financial support. I know, I know, there are so many people who need money for so many important things, and I’m just adding one more to the pile. I have been very blessed already to have the support of an anonymous donor who is willing to help with the cost of these procedures and I am so very grateful, but I will still need help; travel expenses to Los Angles including gas and food, prescriptions, possibly new contacts or glasses after my eyesight has settled, and other medical expenses. As always, when you don't have insurance, expenses add up pretty quickly. In fact, things are so tight for us right now that I can’t even make the appointment until I have $100.00 donated. This $100.00 is the fee that they require for me to even make the appointment. This is $100.00 that we simply don't have right now. If I can get this money by the end of the week, it looks like I’d be able to get in around the middle of November for my procedures!                                                                                                                                                                                             This is do-able people! Think about it like this, if every single Facebook friend I had donated just $10.00, I’d have enough to cover much of my expenses. Or, if every person I graduated from PVHS  with (go Panthers!) donated just $25.00 or, if every one of my cousins would donate just $35.00.... Get the picture? Just a little bit from many will change my world for the better and soon!

If you know me at all, you know how uncomfortable asking people for money makes me. I don’t think anything short of the threat of blindness or possible life threatening illness would induce me to do it. I don’t like being a charity case, but I really want to see. This whole experience has been about hope for me; hope that I won’t lose my eyesight, hope that an experimental procedure would stop the progression on my condition, hope that I would somehow be able to pay for this procedure, hope that people are good and caring in deed as well as in word, hope that God cares about what is happening to me and my family. I’d like to share a scripture from the Book of Mormon with you. It’s from Alma 37:6, “Now ye may suppose that this is  foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass.” So skip that movie and dinner one weekend, skip pizza night, skip your double latte whatever for a few days, or that new pair of shoes you don’t really need and let’s do this! Hope. It’s a good thing.