Help Katie raise money

Hi Family and Friends: I am excited to announce I am running the 49th Annual Falmouth Road Race to raise funds for The Retina Service at Mass Eye & Ear (MEEI). 

I run for MEEI because Dr. Lucy Young and her team have saved my sight numerous times, and have helped preserve my vision for the past 17 years. While in my early 30s, I began to see a black spot in my central line of vision. It quickly grew larger, until I could no longer read the newspaper, books, or street signs.

Alarmed, I saw Dr. Lucy Young at MEEI, who diagnosed me with macular degeneration and pathologic myopia. These conditions, though rare in younger people, lead to severe vision loss and blindness. I worried that I would no longer be able to earn a living, drive a car, go for a run, or witness my daughters' milestones. 

Until the early 2000s, there were no effective treatments. Had these issues surfaced earlier in my life, the outcome may have been very different. 

My initial treatments at MEEI kept my vision at 20/20 for about eight years. Since then, I've had some setbacks - a few series of shots and the unfortunate arrival of the condition in my left eye. Then, in 2020, the "black spot" returned. Last fall, I endured still more injections, until the amazing Dr. Lucy Young stabilized my vision yet again. 

This latest episode has convinced me that I need to do even more to ensure that MEEI's groundbreaking research can continue. These are exciting times at MEEI. Researchers are pioneering new treatments every day to preserve and rebuild the retina. I would be honored if you would consider a small donation so that MEEI can continue its groundbreaking research to help improve the quality of life for people who would otherwise face blindness. 

Thank you so much! Katie xo