IMPORTANT NOTICE:
YOUR CARD STATEMENT WILL SHOW AS BLUE GURUZ INC.

My name is Vanessa. I am a Composer, Musician, Steelpan Arranger and Hostess of Steelpan City on WACK 90.1 FM. Some of you may better know me as the Musical Director/Vice President of Golden Hands. I have been a musician since I was 4 years old. My love for the Steelpan has taken me on a life-long musical journey of truly unique experiences and opportunities. I really have been blessed to touch many lives through music and to have mine touched in return. Writing music is my specialty and I have forged a career of it. I have a serious malady that makes it extremely difficult to see or to be exposed to bright light for a long period of time (like my computer screen or on-coming traffic). I cannot see unless I am squinting and even then my vision is fair at best. I know you are probably wondering "How did this happen? How did you let it get to this point?" Well the answer is heartbreaking, but unfortunately true. Let me explain. Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease in which the normally round cornea (the clear part covering your iris) thins and begins to bulge into a cone-like shape. This cone shape deflects light as it enters the eye on its way to the light-sensitive retina, causing distorted vision, and in my case, it is causing extreme vision loss in both eyes (the left is significantly worse than the right). There is no cure and doctors are still not sure what causes it. During my teenage years I wore glasses for short-sightedness. But the eye specialist I visited routinely every month never diagnosed me with keratoconus. It wasn't until I started to attend UWI that I realised that my glasses would work only for a few months and then the lenses would have to be strenthened again. All the while it was becoming increasingly difficult to read sheet music or the whiteboards in class. By the time I visited that certain "designer" optometrist chain and actually got a diagnosis, I was in my late 20's and they said that there was nothing that they could do for me because my eyes were "too far gone"- No hard contacts, no soft contacts, no glasses (because I would have to change them too often). On top of that, there were and still are only a few eye specialists in Trinidad and Tobago who are familiar with the disease and offer treatment options. I got neck deep in research and decided that my eyes were too important to risk an experimental surgery by a doctor who had only performed it "a couple of times". So I began to look for treatment solutions and clinics abroad. Since then I have found a number of revolutionary treatment/management options for keratoconus victims. Most recently I found Dr. Gemoules a.k.a. Dr. G at Laserfit in Dallas, Texas. The treatment is the first 100% Digitally Made and Non-Invasive Scleral lens system available. These are highly effective for complex vision issues such as keratoconus. In a personal email, Dr. G said that there is no assurance that my results will be as good as someone else's, but that Laserfit scleral lenses can improve the higher order aberrations "on average" 50% over the standard lens. This means that some may experience less improvement, and some will improve by more than 50%. He feels strongly that MOST patients will see an improvement over the standard lens. This is because they measure the aberrations, and they correct them. Unfortunately, the KC corneas can be more complicated and there can be scar tissue that can interfere with the results. I have to admit, I cried when I read his first email. Hope. At this point no contacts or glasses will help me see. The disease is progressive and sadly many have lost their sight entirely. So, Dr. G suggested that look into Cross-linking surgery (CXL). This ia a procedure which should stop the progression. That procedure is minimally invasive and Dr. David Maharaj of Advanced Vision Technologies of Trinidad & Tobago (AVTT) is well capable. When this is completed, after 6 months, I can visit Dr. G in Texas to be fitted for Scleral Lenses (once the borders reopen!) Short of corneal transplant, this is my best option. I've done the research and I am convinced that this will give me my musical life back!
**********Dont forget to check out the UPDATES tab for progress reports!!**********
Peace, Love and Music
Vanessa Headley BA (Hons.) Musicla Arts, MA Psychology for Musicians
For further details, please reach me at:
+1-868-489-9151
Or send an email to vheadley89@gmail.com

IMG_0055_1601178357.JPG
FB_IMG_1572922100027_1601178237.jpg

61554992_2239480869638174_4381745018566606848_o_1601178490.jpg
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous donated $169

    Get well soon!

  • M Cox
    M Cox donated $338

    Best wishes and God's blessings to you Vanessa!

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous donated $675
  • Ayana Roberts
    Ayana Roberts donated $338
  • Kirk Portillo
    Kirk Portillo donated $135

    May The Most High continue to bless & protect you.

  • courtney johnston
    courtney johnston donated $270
  • augustine
    augustine donated $270

    god speed

  • Adrian Lovell
    Adrian Lovell donated $675
  • Marlene Anderson
    Marlene Anderson donated $675

    God’s blessings be with you. Stay strong...

  • Anika Callender
    Anika Callender donated $338

    Sorry you’re going through this babes. Praying for your full recovery. ❤️

  • *****UPDATE*****

    On Thursday 22nd October, I visited Caribbean Eye Institute for scleral lens fitting as well as consultation with Dr. Deo Singh.

    There is good news all around! I am scheduled for my first procedure on Wednesday 28th October.

    There is a recovery period with post-operarive care, after which time Dr. Singh will determine the next step.

    After reading about my situation in the Express newspaper, Dr. Singh and the Caribbean Eye Institute have up to this point provided me with free eye care. He has also offered to do the first stage of required procedures pro bono and has mapped out a unique protocol for the entire process.

    Due to this fortunate turn of events, I am now able to reduce my campaign goal, which means I am even closer than I thought. One of the aims is still to visit Dr. G at Laserfit in Dallas, Texas for custom fit sclerals. So the money raised will go toward that trip and other medical expenses both here and abroad. But for now, the first few legs of this journey continue.

    To everyone who called, texted, donated, shared and/contributed in one way or another, THANK YOU.

Medical

Vanessa Headley - Keratoconus (Cone-Shaped Cornea) Procedures

by Vanessa Alexandra Headley
Created Sep 27, 2020 | Trinidad and Dallas, Texas
$37,287 raised of $120,000 goal 31%
  • 76 Donations
  • No deadline
  • 1 Like

Related Campaigns

Take a look at other campaigns in the same category.

Medical Fundraiser for a Police Officer
Medical
Medical Fundraiser for a Police Officer

A police officer who has been a friend of the PEP (Progressive Empowerment Party...

$601 1.20%
raised of $50,000
by Sateesh Ramsaran No deadline
Ongoing Therapy Costs for Joaquin
Medical
Ongoing Therapy Costs for Joaquin

My son Joaquin Foreman is high functioning autistic, has ADHD, sensory processin...

$4,826 16.09%
raised of $30,000
by Michelle Foreman No deadline
Join Us in Supporting Josh-El's Recovery Journey
Medical
Join Us in Supporting Josh-El's Recovery Journey

We are reaching out to you with a heartfelt plea for support for a brave young s...

$0 0.00%
raised of $100,000
by Josh-El Cumberbatch No deadline