A Beacon of Hope: Fighting Hereditary Open Angle Glaucoma

Title: A Beacon of Hope: Fighting Hereditary Open Angle Glaucoma

Hello, I'm Dina Ibanez, a Licensed Professional Teacher, and I want to share our family's journey with you - a journey filled with love, challenges, and the relentless fight against Hereditary Open Angle Glaucoma. It all began when I married the love of my life, a remarkable man who, unfortunately, carried the weight of this devastating genetic condition in his family for generations.

Hereditary Open Angle Glaucoma, often a silent thief of vision, had taken root in my husband's family, passed down from one generation to the next. This genetic disease, inherited from his father, led my husband to experience a life-changing visual disability. To combat the relentless progression of this disease, he underwent an Ahmed Valve implant during his teenage years, which offered a glimmer of hope.

But the battle was far from over. In 2017, the glaucoma had taken its toll on my husband's corneas, leaving him with damaged vision. He underwent a corneal transplant, a critical procedure that further depleted our finances, leaving us burdened with loans and debts.

Our family's challenges were far from unique. In 2017, we made the difficult decision to have our three sons monitored for eye pressure and undergo regular check-ups. It was a heart-wrenching experience to see the same shadows of glaucoma looming over their young lives.

Titus Nathan, the youngest among our three children, faced the most daunting path. Despite undergoing two laser surgeries to reduce his eye pressure, the disease showed no mercy. It was on July 28, 2023, that he underwent an Ahmed Valve implant, a costly and critical procedure that marked his last chance to preserve his eyesight. Our finances were stretched to the limit, but we couldn't let Titus lose his vision without a fight.

Regrettably, we couldn't raise the funds in time to save Titus's eyesight, and he now grapples with visual impairment, unable to attend a regular school like his peers. Our hearts ache for his dreams, lost to the relentless grip of glaucoma.

Now, our two older sons, Josiah Joe and Dayne Nathaniel, are under constant surveillance. Dayne is already on eye drops medication to manage his eye pressure. The doctor's stern advice reverberates in our hearts - without timely intervention, blindness is a looming threat for them.

Our family is at a crossroads, determined to shield Josiah Joe and Dayne Nathaniel from the darkness of blindness. But the financial burden of impending Ahmed Valve implant surgeries is an overwhelming storm we cannot weather alone.

We need your help, your support, to ensure that Josiah Joe and Dayne Nathaniel can continue to see the world, chase their dreams, and live lives free from the shroud of darkness that threatens their sight. Since the battle for this illness will take a lifetime and continued medication.

Join us in this courageous journey to raise funds and give our family the chance they deserve - the chance to see a brighter future for our sons. Let's unite to ensure that Hereditary Open Angle Glaucoma doesn't snatch away the dreams and aspirations of Josiah Joe, Dayne Nathaniel, and Titus Nathan. Together, we can shine a beacon of hope in their lives and help them overcome the shadows that threaten their sight.

Donate today and be a part of this remarkable journey toward a future where blindness is no longer a looming threat. Together, we can make a difference, bringing light and hope to our family's darkest hour. Your contribution will help us afford the crucial Ahmed Valve implant surgeries and pave the way for a future where blindness is no longer a looming threat. Stand with us, and let's be their beacon of hope.