Aspheric Toric Lenses to Save Artist's Eyesight

"Dave “Chalkmaster” Johnston is going temporarily blind. He has cataracts in both eyes. The condition is far worse in his right eye and needs
immediate surgery.

[Edited to add: Dave made me edit this to put the word temporarily in because he will have access to the basic surgery covered by health care if he 
can't fund raise the amounts and so thought it was misleading to say he is going blind because once he has surgery the lenses will save his sight.  I 
have edited as per his instructions but added this note in so you can see what an absolute mensch he is].

For any of us who know Dave personally - who have bought art from Dave; laughed at least two or three times a day at his videos of coyotobear
sightings or axe throwing, fire-pit wine drinking parties for one, plus the dog; or have fallen in love with Nova Scotia through his eyes, from paintings of Peggy’s Cove to his Lighthouses of Nova Scotia project ... this is not something that we as his community are going to let happen.

The good news is that it is a fully treatable condition, partially covered by provincial health insurance. The health plan will cover basic cataract
surgery in both eyes and then you take your eyeball chances with that and hope the dice rolls well.

Dave, as an artist who is dependent on his eyes and his vision being the best it can be for his livelihood, needs more than the base minimum that the health plan will cover. At his ophthalmology appointment today the doctor recommended that Aspheric Symphony Toric lenses be used. These are a
premium lens so they can treat both the cataracts and astigmatism, giving Dave’s sight the best opportunity that they can. (Surgeries, including
laser eye, come with no guarantees).

As with all things in the time of COVID, it’s taken a bit of time for Dave to get in to see the right doctor. Rather than the six month expected wait
time for surgery (provincial standards), the surgeon is going to fix Dave’s eyes no later than December (60 days plus or minus from now) because
Dave will be blind in one eye if he does not get the surgery in an emergent way. In a typical Dave fashion he reached out to his online tribe following diagnosis by the ophthalmologist today to ask for advice in terms of balancing the need to see his children at Christmas or whether he should spend
that money on paying the ophthalmologist for the premium lens (recommended by the doctor).

>>

Ok... so what to do now? Surgery should be less than 8 weeks away. Get the premium lenses and spend $3,000 ... or get the basic covered ones that
are better than my current state of sight but also have many humans online here and with reviews saying they wish they got the premium ones and others saying don't waste money just get the basics and glasses if you need them.

If I start a GoFundMe and get $3,000 then is it wrong to spend on my eyes when I have payments and bills and would love to see my kids for Christmas if possible since I haven't seen them in months... tough, tough call.

Is it greedy?

Is it self-care?

Is it selfish because maybe the basic is fine, or is it required to be at my best to do my best work? I am seriously, for real, not knowing what to do...
usually I have at least half a mind but this is a tough one.

>>
The cost for the surgery to give Dave’s eyeballs the best chance they can to be the best eyeballs in the world of global art is $3,000. That’s Canadian dollars too - which is only $2,253.51 American dollars and a mere 1,735.39 pound sterling.

For those of you not fortunate enough to know Dave, he gives back to his community (wherever he is) in ways both small and large. Every year for
Remembrance Day on November 11th, Dave does a painting in honour of veterans and donates the money from the sale to a veteran supporting
charity. Some of these paintings I have on my walls and some are on the walls of veterans that I know.

Dave is also the neighbour who is willing to go the extra mile for folks and often uses donations raised through one of his paintings at Christmas to
fund-raise to get Tim Horton’s gift certificates etc. for folks who are going through tough times.

So here’s what I want us to be able to do for Dave:

1) Raise the funds required for the premium lenses - $3,000.

2) Raise some additional funds $500 for a short recovery period so that Dave actually allows his eyes to heal before going back to creating super
art. (covers the cost of eye drops and having a companion for the post-surgery day to look after Dave, Jake and Molly (Dave's dog and foster dog).

PLEASE NOTE that the commissioned work that Dave is advertising on his page etc. is not intended to duplicate this fundraiser. He also is a Dad
providing support to his daughter and niece (who are in post-secondary) and his son in high school.  And he continues, like the rest of us, to have 
regular bills to pay.

Okay community, we got this.

Let’s get this artist his eyes back for Christmas this year so he can see his kids. Literally on two levels. And so he can keep making the amazing art
that I may or may not be addicted to buying to the point where I just need to move into a gallery already.

If any money is raised above our goal, it will be donated to River Herbert District School in River Herbert, Nova Scotia. Dave normally donates to
their arts program but due to COVID and no summer corporate projects, he is unable to do so this year.

So we can definitely do this in 30 days.

I have no doubts that we can have Dave with the money he needs to save not just his eyes but also his livelihood and maybe have a bit left over for
the kids at River Herbert to have some art magik in 2021.

Let's make our own beauty in the world because if 2020 has taught us nothing else, it's taught us we're all in this together.

Let's get 'er done."