Blind mother of 5 pleads for chance to regain sight
Published:Tuesday | March 19, 2024 | 12:12 AMAsha Wilks/Gleaner Writer
Kimoly Robinson’s financial difficulties have prevented her from having her visual impairment corrected, resulting in five missed doctor’s appointments.
This has left her feeling disheartened that her wish for sight may not come true.
Robinson has been diagnosed with a progressive eye disease, which has rendered her blind in both eyes.
In an interview with The Gleaner last Friday, the St Ann native explained that she has been missing her appointments at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida, because she has been unsuccessful in raising the required funds to do her cornea transplant surgery, one that is not available in Jamaica.
Robinson is becoming increasingly anxious and worries that she may never be able to the meet the target of US$40,000 (approximately J$6.2 million) to conduct her surgery, pay for airfare, and attend the necessary doctor consultations, which range from US$300 to US$6,000 per visit, especially when requiring additional tests.
Her appointment date is scheduled for July 31, with an operation date of August 6. To ensure that she is available for surgery, she needs to be in Miami by July 29.
Currently, Robinson has only raised US$200 in donations through the crowdfunding platform, Real Helping Hands.
The mother of five stated that daily life has been difficult. She is still raising three of her children, ages six, nine, and 17, but this, coupled with her inability to work, has caused her sadness.
Through audible expressions of defeat, Robinson confessed that things have been “hard”.
“I cannot go anywhere. I’m just always at home,” she said, sounding dejected.
Robinson also finds it challenging to move around the hilly terrain of Parry Town, where she resides. It is the father of her children who must work two jobs to support the family and finance the children’s education.
Robinson recalled that it was in 2002 that she began to experience sickness in her eyes.
Initially, she was diagnosed with severe uveitis, which is an inflammation in the eye that can result in vision loss.
By May 2016, she had become totally blind.
She underwent five procedures between then and 2019, but none of them restored her vision.
Robinson is making a plea to the public for assistance in making her dream come true.
Persons willing to offer assistance to Kimoly Robinson may donate at: https://realhelpinghands.com/campaign/urgent-eye-surgery-needed-for-kimoly/ or via bank transfer at her National Commercial Bank (NCB) savings account #584674423 Ocho Rios branch. She can also be reached via telephone at 876-851-6354.