"help John get his eyesight back"
Donation protected
15 years ago, John Le Roux was surfing Supertubes of Jeffreys Bay and he lost sight in his left eye in an unfortunate accident.
Life changed a bit, but he managed to get on with it as if nothing had really happened. Cape St. Francis became home and Seal Point became the new local surf spot. 15 years later, at 61 years of age, John was fit and able and also enjoying a new phase of work in his life: woodworking.
Then, the unthinkable happened and life changed forever.
John woke up on the 14th of October 2014 and slowly realized that he couldn't see anything out of his right eye either. He had gone blind overnight due to an unrelated condition called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. The optic nerve of his right eye hadn't received enough fresh blood supply overnight and it shut down. And optic nerves don't recover by themselves.
Unlike the first accident, this has not been as easy to bounce back from. To say that life was different for John and his wife, Lucia, would be an understatement. Even the simplest things became huge challenges to be faced on a daily basis. And, it goes without saying that John’s surfboards and woodworking workshop have only gathered dust for the last year as they’ve tried to pick up the pieces.
Life really had changed. And in all of the consultations with doctor and specialists, there literally was no light at the end of the tunnel for John and Lucia. Until now. And, hopefully, that’s why you’re reading this.
John’s ophthalmologist recently told him about an experimental stem cell procedure in San Francisco which could help him regain some vision in his right eye. With the procedure and accommodation and the current Rand - Dollar exchange rate, he’s kindly asking those who can to help with some of the costs. The goal is to raise $30,000 in 2 weeks and every little bit helps.
Life changed a bit, but he managed to get on with it as if nothing had really happened. Cape St. Francis became home and Seal Point became the new local surf spot. 15 years later, at 61 years of age, John was fit and able and also enjoying a new phase of work in his life: woodworking.
Then, the unthinkable happened and life changed forever.
John woke up on the 14th of October 2014 and slowly realized that he couldn't see anything out of his right eye either. He had gone blind overnight due to an unrelated condition called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. The optic nerve of his right eye hadn't received enough fresh blood supply overnight and it shut down. And optic nerves don't recover by themselves.
Unlike the first accident, this has not been as easy to bounce back from. To say that life was different for John and his wife, Lucia, would be an understatement. Even the simplest things became huge challenges to be faced on a daily basis. And, it goes without saying that John’s surfboards and woodworking workshop have only gathered dust for the last year as they’ve tried to pick up the pieces.
Life really had changed. And in all of the consultations with doctor and specialists, there literally was no light at the end of the tunnel for John and Lucia. Until now. And, hopefully, that’s why you’re reading this.
John’s ophthalmologist recently told him about an experimental stem cell procedure in San Francisco which could help him regain some vision in his right eye. With the procedure and accommodation and the current Rand - Dollar exchange rate, he’s kindly asking those who can to help with some of the costs. The goal is to raise $30,000 in 2 weeks and every little bit helps.
Organizer and beneficiary
Jevon Le Roux
Organizer
San Francisco, CA
Thomas Le Roux
Beneficiary