Support Deborrah Wilkinson's Recovery Journey

Support Deborrah Wilkinson's Recovery Journey

Dear Friends of Deborrah,

A GoFundMe account has been set up for our friend, Deborrah Wilkinson, to support her financial needs during her recovery from a freak and severe accident to her eye.

Hi, my name is Cordell Sloan, and I’m blessed to be a friend of Deb’s through my wife, Lonnie, who has been tied to the hip of her “sister-by-choice,” Deb, since the early 1970s.

Lonnie is also the godmother to Talia, Deb’s daughter. In 1986, at the age of 14, Talia, in her cupid-chef aspect, made a romantic dinner for Lonnie, who had invited some new guy (me) over to her apartment. Talia was staying with Lonnie that summer, while Deb went to LA to find an apartment for the both of them. That first dinner that “young adult” Talia made us and then served me and Lonnie has been an anchor memory in our relationship. All of this is to say, I’m extremely close to and grateful for the years of “brother-in-law-ness” and “Uncle Man-ness” with Deb and Talia.

Lonnie and I have walked with Deb through many life events And one of the most important was when Deb turned 40, she was diagnosed with Fuch's Dystrophy, a rare hereditary disease. Since 1998, she has had two cornea transplants in both eyes.

The Accident

In July 2024, as many of you may already know, Deb recently had a freak, physical accident, which may alter the trajectory of her life. In her new Washington state home—a dream come true after many, many years of tension-filled apartment living in Los Angeles—Deb got up from an activity to go into the next room. Not realizing the closeness of the corner of the mantel that was part of her new home, she turned and struck the mantel with her face. The corner of the mantel went deeply into her right eye, seriously injuring it and the vulnerable cornea transplant (forgive the graphicness).

The shock, trauma, and pain that ensued were among the most frightening physical events that Deb has experienced. Talia, who lives only 2 minutes away from Deb’s new home, of course, rushed her to Kaiser Permanente Tacoma Urgent Care. Due to the severity of the injury, Deb required open globe surgery which KP could not perform. Deb was transported by ambulance to Madigan Army Medical Center located at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord, where a highly capable team of doctors performed surgery. The 24-hour wait to see if the surgery was successful seemed like 24 days—but it worked. The good and bad news, however, is that the Army doctors give Deb a 50/50 chance of losing her right eye—even after another surgery.

The Ongoing Struggle

Deb requires frequent follow-ups with multiple doctors, necessitating repeated weekly appointments to the military ophthalmology clinic—an hour's drive away. Ubers or LYFTS are not allowed onto the base. The only transportation option available so far has been Talia driving Deb to and from her appointments. Talia’s employer was unsympathetic to the support demands of her situation and fired her.

How You Can Help

We have set up this GoFundMe campaign to help cover the following expenses:

The funds raised will go directly into Deb’s account, with GoFundMe taking a 3% service fee. Please note that GoFundMe also asks for an additional donation, which is optional.

Deb will need another cornea transplant surgery in the Fall. The Army's ophthalmologist and cornea specialist want to move forward with that surgery and also remove debris from her eye. This team of doctors has “adopted” Deb’s medical case, and their dedication to her well-being is truly remarkable. That’s a blessing in all this.

Your Support Matters

Any amount you’re able to contribute towards Deb’s expenses will be a tremendous support. Please consider donating to Deb’s GoFundMe campaign. We also encourage you to leave a note for Deb that Talia can read to her. Your messages of support will mean the world to her during this difficult time.

Warm Regards, Cordell Sloan and Lonnie Moseley-Sloan