Raeya, a 14-year-old high school student living in Upstate New York is constantly busy—but that’s how she prefers things. When she is not studying or playing goalie for her travel ice hockey team, she is creating art animation projects or rehearsing for her school’s latest musical. “I love theater, especially musicals, I just think they’re so fun,” Raeya said. She has a bubbly, bright energy that is apparent to everyone she meets, but the life she leads now seemed unlikely in her early childhood. For the first four years of her life, Raeya suffered from repeated eye infections that caused extensive scarring on both of her corneas.
When Raeya began to develop eye infections, her mother, Jacqueline, searched for a solution. They were referred to specialist after specialist, who prescribed different eye drops and eye washes. Still, Raeya continued to develop infections and styes. “It was almost like she was having repetitive pink eye,” said Jacqueline. Her eyes were so sensitive that she would have to wear sunglasses inside the house.” Raeya’s condition worsened until, eventually, she became legally blind. “When she was in kindergarten, she was delayed in her reading and writing because of her eye problems.”
Raeya was only four years old when Dr. Zaidman performed her first cornea transplant surgery at Westchester Medical Center with donor tissue provided by The Eye-Bank. Raeya was nervous, but as a cornea surgeon who frequently treats pediatric patients, Dr. Zaidman was able to explain the surgery in a way that she could understand and be reassured about the procedure. The first surgery was very successful, and she had a cornea transplant in her other eye 7 months later. “The first thing she said to me when she woke up and had her eye patch removed was ‘Oh, mommy you’re so pretty! And you wear earrings!’” said Jacqueline.
From the moment Raeya could see, life was completely different. She could now see letters on the page; she learned to write her name, read and do math. She started exploring interests that have since blossomed into avid hobbies. “To be able to go from not being able to see the paper in front of her to the artwork she does now is just amazing!” her mother said.
Ten years later, Raeya is an active high-school student pursuing her passions with gusto. She is a gifted artist and, as an Eye-Bank Young Ambassador, she has designed The Eye-Bank’s Thanksgiving card! Raeya played a lead in her school’s production of the musical Frozen and is the goalie on her travel ice hockey team, the Louisville Arctics.