Eye Surgery for Ruby

Our beautiful two year old daughter Ruby is in urgent need of eye surgery. We are calling on the support and love of family and friends, and the compassionate community, to help save our daughter's vision.

In February this year, Ruby was admitted to the Royal Children's Hospital after her right eye turned completely without moving for four hours. The worst case scenario was the beginnings of a tumour or stroke episode. Thankfully, an emergency MRI ruled out both. However, the MRI did show minor brain damage and we believe this was from a fall off the couch a few days earlier. Ruby has been diagnosed with a rare disorder called "Sixth Nerve Palsy" (caused by head trauma), which basically means her brain has trouble sending nerve signals to her eye muscles. We are praying that vision is the only neurological issue, but at this stage doctors are still unsure what her brain abnormalities mean.

Fast forward six months of ongoing specialist appointments and therapy, and Ruby's vision has worsened, with recent testing showing 30% loss of vision. It is hard for Ruby to do everyday things such as running and playing, looking at picture books and even holding objects, that other children her age do with ease.

The good news is that the likelihood of eye surgery success has been put at 97% and this is the best option going forward. At present there is a 12 month to two year public waiting list, which is concerning, given how rapid Ruby's eye sight has already declined in a few months. Money raised from this campaign will help cover some of the costs of surgery and neurological therapy - we are aiming for September - and get Ruby on the way back to leading a normal life of an active and happy two year old. As the proverb says, "It takes a whole village to raise a child"... every donation helps and is appreciated.