How To Help A Kings Park Teen Left Blind After Tragic Accident

KINGS PARK, NY - A fundraising campaign was recently started to help a Long Island teen who was left blind after a tragic accident last month.

On Oct. 2nd, Thomas Cuillo, 18, of Kings Park was involved in a tragic accident that left him completely blind.

As a result, his right eye was lost (enucleated) and his left eye suffered from optic nerve damage, detached retina and corneal damage.

Cuillo also sustained major damage to his right hand, causing loss of bone and hand function.

He spent 8 days in Stony Brook University Hospital, at which time he had endured several surgeries that included immediate emergency surgery throughout the night with hopes to save his left eye. Unfortunately, the surgery did not end with positive results.

The following day he had hand surgery where pins were placed in hopes to gain mobility eventually. The day after that was the enucleation of his right eye.

After his discharge from the hospital, he was taken to New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai in Manhattan for total reconstructive surgery with the hopes of saving some of his vision.

After 8 and a half hours of surgery, they were able to reattach his retina to their best possible ability as there were several holes in his retina.

Cuillo had a donor corneal transplant as well, but the optic nerve and the retina were both damaged so it is still unsure if he will regain some eye sight.

After all of that, Cuillo will still require additional surgeries.

That is why a campaign was started on GoFundMe for Cuillo.

"This is only the beginning of a long, hard road ahead for Thomas," Rose Fazio, who created the fundraiser, wrote on the GoFundMe page. "At 18 years old, trying to adapt and adjust to the unimaginable realization of a new way of life."

Fazio is hoping to raise $150,000 to help the family.

"This process will require much needed out of pocket expenses, rehabilitation, personal care assistants/escorts, medications, specialists for needed future surgeries, educational institutions, training/support, sight tools, goods and services to assist and adapt for his best quality of life," she wrote on the page. "In addition, there are other possible options to assist in regaining his vision somewhat, such as e sight glasses, Fedorov restoration therapy(ACS-alternating current stimulation) retinal implant (bionic eye), and stem cell therapy."

Fazio explains that health insurance only covers some expenses and the rest is left for his family to figure out for themselves.

"Some state services had been applied for from the New York State Commission for the blind for basic skills which again takes time for approval," she wrote. "Once again, Thomas needs so much more to learn and adapt to his very challenging new way of life."

The family is also in need of assistance since after the accident, Cuillo's mother left her job to care for him on a 24 hours basis.

"His family and the people close to him have been supportive, loving and are all heartbroken. We need to continue to expedite his progression of recovery daily and we need your support as well, please help us help Thomas," Fazio wrote. "We can't do it alone and we truly appreciate the love, support and help."

As of Wednesday, the page has raised a total of $3,540.

To learn more or to donate, visit the GoFundMe page here.

Image via GoFundMe