Family Of Shinnecock Man With Eye Disease Reaches Out For Help

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — A young Shinnecock man battling eye disease needs help, his family said.

A GoFundMe page, "Vision 4 Derek," was created by Donna Eleazar to help her grandson Derek, who has Keratoconus, a progressive eye disease.

"We are a people who are proud of our families and our love for each and every member of our Nation," Eleazar, a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation wrote. "We are few in numbers, but many in our efforts to ensure that each of us is provided with opportunities to live our best lives."

Despite exhaustive efforts to find medical assistance for Derek, 27, help is needed, Eleazar said. "Since his youth, he started to lose his ability to see clearly," she said. "He eventually became so impaired that he currently cannot drive, or even see things unless they are less than an inch in front of him — and that is with his glasses."

His family is asking for assistance so that Derek can have surgery on his corneas and then, purchase contact lenses that will enable him to see, Eleazar said.

Until recently, she added, her grandson lived in Maryland, but his deteriorating vision has led him back home to Southampton, "where his family, his Nation, can better support him in these medical pursuits," she said.

Derek and his family have seen specialists, met with social workers and medical professionals in an effort to identify a means of securing payment for the operation and the corrective hard contact lenses; neither is currently covered through any health insurance, Eleazar said. The operation costs $3,000, the corrective hard contact lenses cost $6,000, and the remaining $1,000 will be used for transportation and care during and after the operations, and any incidentals that may arise, she said.

"Derek is a kind-hearted, gentle being. When his doctor allowed him to wear a trial pair of contact lenses as a part of the optometrist's pre-care and diagnostic stage, he was so moved by his ability to see, that his eyes teared from joy. He reached out to touch the face of his niece, and said,'Oh, my, you look like your father!'"

Derek and his family will continue to pursue all avenues of possible funding sources, and will welcome any recommendations, Eleazar said.

"We can barely find words that will express what this procedure and the contact lenses will mean, not only to Derek and his quality of life, but to a family who loves him, and wants only the best for him," she wrote. "We are grateful and very thankful."

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