Help Bou See Again

This is a GoFundMe page for Aboubacar Dia or “Bou” as everyone knows him. The purpose of this page is to raise funds for Bou’s eye surgery and medical expenses as his insurance only covers a very small portion of the procedure. All donations will be used to pay for the surgery and related expenses.

Many of you may be aware, and others may not be, that Bou struggled with alcoholism in his early 20’s for many years. One of the happiest moments in my life was in August of the COVID year 2020 when Bou chose sobriety over addiction. Bou’s journey to sobriety was not easy but he made it. Today, Bou is living a healthy, sober, and spiritually led life.

In 2021, Bou was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and had to make drastic lifestyle changes to adjust to this condition to improve his health. In 2021, Bou also met Brooke. The friendship blossomed and now, 1.5 years later, Bou, Brooke, and her two boys (10 & 12) have created a beautiful life filled with endless love with some organized chaos.

In 2022, Bou went back to school after 9 years and is doing fantastic. He is a full-time student and is maintaining almost all A’s in his first year while working as much as he can. His major is Computer Science and he’s looking for an internship at a programming company for this coming year.

Also, in 2022 Bou was diagnosed with Posterior Subcapsular Cataract (PSC) a very rapidly progressing cataract that has affected every aspect of his life. As the year passed, the cataracts made it more difficult to see. He has been unable to do his school work at times and it has severely limited his ability to work and is unable to drive at certain times of the day. Brooke has stayed by his side helping him in any way she can.

The doctor said that Bou needed to have the surgery within the year. The surgery he is getting is very expensive unfortunately but is designed for a lifetime of improved and stable sight. It is also very expensive but he will only need the surgery once. He had surgery on one eye on May 10 and the second eye surgery will be in June. I think we can all agree that there are no words that can describe how precious the gift of sight is.

Now that one eye has been corrected, I asked Bou what it is like to see out of that eye. He told me the following – “Everything is so much different, in a wonderful way. I hadn’t been able to see clearly in so long that I had honestly forgotten what things normally looked like. I sat down with a huge grin petting the cat the other day simply because I could see the ruffles in her fur again. I was almost totally overwhelmed when, for the first time in almost a year, I got to see all the vibrant colors of the outdoors. My ability to see someone and recognize them from further than 5 yards away was restored. Until just a week ago most things were colored, shaped blurs. I am so incredibly grateful that having this surgery is even a possibility for me. I’ve only had one eye done and already that has had a huge impact on my daily life - I can enjoy the little things again, literally and figuratively. I can see the pictures Brooke’s sons, Kavin and Darrin, drew in class and brought home without taking it into a dim room and staring at it moving it closer and further from my face. I’m able to wake up every day without worrying that today might be the day that it’s finally gotten so bad I can’t drive anymore. I can do my homework without splitting headaches or the fear that I might have to withdraw from school again. I almost feel whole again, and that feeling is indescribable.”

Any amount you are willing to contribute is so greatly appreciated, and if you aren’t able to contribute money at this time, a share with your friends or family would mean the world to them. Your help will change their lives in so many beautiful ways. Thank you so much for taking the time to read their story.

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