I cannot even begin to describe how wonderful it is for me to see again. I not only see well, but actually see better than I have ever been able to in my 52 years of age. Mission Cataract has not only given my hope back, but it has given me the strength to embark on a new journey against cancer. Thanks to Dr. Shoemaker and the amazing team he put together, I can now see to learn all about my cancer and learn how to fight it. As I look back and think about the surgery Dr. Shoemaker performed, I tell everyone who will listed, “After what Dr. Shoemaker and Mission Cataract did for my eyes, getting some cancer tumors removed should be a walk in the park.” Thank you from the bottom of my heart! In my opinion, your charity should not be called “Mission Cataract,” but “Mission Hope” or “Second Chance at Life.” Respectfully,

My right eye was virtually useless to me. I would try to focus and everything was a dark blur. I missed the simple things we often take for granted. I had to close my right eye and wear glasses to watch TV. Reading was difficult and driving at night was totally out. I used to love putting together jigsaw puzzles, but that became impossible because I couldn’t distinguish between dark brown and dark blue. I needed very, very bright light in order to see. Now? It’s as different as night and day. It’s so clear now-almost like I have a brand new pair of glasses, but there’s nothing on my face! The results were instantaneous. It was miraculous. I had no prior experience with cataract surgery, so I didn’t know what to expect. There was a young man who held my hand during the operation – God bless his heart. They told me I would see a little better. I had no idea it would be this great! I do have one regret, though. When I went in for my last follow up visit, the doctor who saw me was not the surgeon who performed the surgery. I never got to hug Dr. Kim. He’s a wonderful, wonderful man. But I did get to hug the doctor who gave me follow up. He was happy to accept the hug. For those of who are considering donating to this cause, please know that you will be just as much a miracle worker as the doctors themselves. To be able to give someone a gift of sight is just as amazing as being able to give them the gift of life-because it is a new life. This is a new life for me.

“Dr. Shoemaker, what can I say to you? My life has changed forever! Thanks to Mission Cataract you have given me a new life. I never thought I would see again until I found Mission Cataract online and got on the waiting list. My heart is full of so many emotions with the ability to see again. To see colors I have not seen in many years … to see faces of people … to look in the mirror and see all of my wrinkles (LOL). The world has opened up to me in just two short weeks. My heart and soul and my mind can now focus on restarting my cleaning business and living life. I will be forever grateful to you and your wonderful staff, including Doctors Orr, Gindoff, Lenhart and all the rest of your staff. If I ever get my Great American Novel published, I will dedicate it to you! God Bless,”

My family has a long history of eye disease and blindness. I’ve been wearing glasses since I was four years old, but as I got older I was having a lot of problems seeing. I thought I had a detached retina like my other family members. But the doctor said I had a cataract in my right eye and I needed to get it out. I couldn’t afford surgery. I’m a self-employed painter, so I don’t have insurance. I do a lot of finish work, but I couldn’t see where I had stopped and started. I don’t want dissatisfied customers. You don’t make near as much money when you have to do things twice. And I couldn’t read house numbers, so I would have to slow down and pull my truck over to find where I was going. Boy the people driving behind me would get mad! I became more and more dependent on my wife. She would drive with me to jobs and would stand over my shoulder and read the computer screen to me to be sure I was getting things right. It took about a week after surgery for my vision to clear. It was almost like watching a rain storm come through. It was like the wall of rain had passed through my line of vision and suddenly, it was bright and clear on the other side. You miss a lot when you have cataracts, but you don’t realize it until you really see for the first time. One day, I realized I could read those little green street signs! That was something I’ve never been able to do my whole life. Even my handwriting is better because I can see what I’m writing. And work is so much better now. Before surgery, my brother used to keep saying “you missed a spot.” Now I don’t miss anything. If it wasn’t for this program and the doctors, I could never have afforded the surgery. I don’t buy things for myself. I want my kids and grandchildren to have the things they need. My wife has to stash away money just to buy me a pair of shoes. Without this program I probably never would have had the surgery. I would have gone blind.

I was totally blind in my right eye. When I went into the office at Center For Sight, I couldn’t even see the biggest letter on the eye chart. I depended on my other eye, which now needs treatment. At the time, I was driving an executive sedan for a cab company. I had to stop driving because I was afraid—I didn’t want to put anyone in danger. It’s a very uncomfortable feeling when you can’t see out of one eye. You can’t see in bright sunlight. You see starbursts at night. It’s difficult to go into a store and try to read the labels on cans. Everything becomes a real chore. It gets frustrating and can make you pretty depressed. Fortunately, I’m married and my wife and parents helped me. But it should be the other way around. My vision was never good. I’ve worn glasses since I was a young boy. But after the surgery… it was the first time I could see crystal clear. They even gave me a contact lens for my left eye. This is the best thing that could ever happen to anybody. I would be totally blind without this program. I couldn’t ever have afforded the surgery myself. It doesn’t matter how educated you are; when you can’t see, it affects everything. I’d like to thank Mission Cataract and the doctors at Center For Sight for having me as a patient. I feel very blessed that there is an organization that will help people in this way.