Robert survived Stevens-Johnson Syndrome as a child, but it destroyed most of his vision. A specialist can save his one good eye — insurance covers none of it.
Robert Brooks for Robert BrooksContributes toward a scleral lens fitting session — the step that can give him functional sight again.
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My name is Robert Brooks, and I'm asking for help because I am scared of losing the little vision I have left.
When I was a child, I survived Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, a rare and life-threatening disease that almost took my life. I survived, but it damaged my eyes and left me living with very limited vision. I only have one good eye left — the other is badly damaged.
Since then, my life has never been normal. Simple things that other people do without thinking are hard for me. Reading, walking outside, recognizing faces, getting around safely, cooking, working, and living independently all take so much effort. Some days I feel trapped inside my own body, trying to survive a world I can barely see.
All of this has also triggered severe anxiety and depression. The constant fear of losing more vision, the frustration of depending on others, and the loneliness of living in darkness have taken a heavy toll on my mind. There are days when the panic attacks are so strong that I can barely breathe, and the depression makes me feel like I am drowning in hopelessness. I have tried so many medications, but many of them either did not help or made me feel worse. I feel alone, overwhelmed, and exhausted from trying to be strong all the time.
But now I finally found a specialist in New York who can help me. I need two things urgently: specialized scleral lenses that can dramatically improve my vision and reduce the 20+ eye drops I take every day, and a complex surgery on my only good eye to try to restore better sight.
The problem is that my insurance will not cover any of it, and the cost is six figures. The follow-up appointments are every six weeks, and I can't afford all of that on my own. I've held on to this dream of seeing better for 33 years, and every time I get close, it gets pulled away.
I am a strong person, but there is only so much a person can take. I don't want to live with this burden my whole life. I just want a chance to see better.
I am not asking for luxury. I am asking for a chance to see better, live with more independence, and not feel so alone in this fight. Please, if God touches your heart, help me get this surgery and the specialized lenses. Any donation, no matter how small, brings me one step closer to saving my eyes.
If you cannot donate, please share my story and say a prayer for me. I am tired, I am scared, and I need help urgently. 🙏
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