Envisioning a brighter future
Toddler needs eye surgery that can only be done in Toronto to save her sight
A little girl who loves to sing the happy birthday song every day, even when it isn’t anyone’s birthday, is about to take a trip that could give her an even better outlook on the world.
Three-year-old Norah Cameron-Ranni of Glace Bay needs a cornea transplant in her right eye, which can only be done at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. That’s because no doctors in Nova Scotia are able to do the procedure.
Norah and her parents, Shauna Cameron and Matt Ranni, leave March 11 for the procedure, which does pose some risks.
“I’m worried just because of the unknown parts of the surgery. The doctor did tell us because of the previous surgeries and scar tissue and things, there’s a chance her eye could actually collapse on itself,” Shauna, 30, said.
Matt, 34, is also worried, but he’s trying not to show it.
“I’m nervous but I try to stay positive because Shauna’s the worrier,” he explained. “I also know this is the best chance for Norah or she’ll just lose her eyesight anyway.”
Norah was born with cataracts
in both eyes. At four weeks old, she had her first set of eye surgeries, then her second set two weeks later. Her natural eye lenses were removed during these surgeries.
Then Norah developed glaucoma in both eyes, which her parents treat with daily eye drops that help maintain eye pressures.
A regular at the IWK Hospital in Halifax, Norah and her parents went up every two weeks for appointments over the past year. During one of those appointments, doctors found a membrane growing in her right eye that needed to be surgically removed.
Because no doctors in Nova Scotia are able to do that surgery, Shauna and Matt had no choice but to go to Toronto for the procedure.
Doctors removed the membrane, which is attached to Norah’s cornea, but it grew back. Three times it grew back and doctors removed it. After
it grew back a fourth time, doctors told Shauna and Matt a cornea transplant was needed.
“It’s either do the surgery and risk it or don’t do it and she will definitely go blind in that eye,” said Shauna.
“And the doctor (in Toronto) … he noted that her left eye will be requiring a cornea transplant as well, further down the road. It’s just stressful.”
Doctors are recommending the family stay in Toronto for a month after the surgery in case
there are any complications, since no doctor in Nova Scotia could help Norah if there were any.
Since they are staying for a month, Shauna and Matt are leaving their oldest daughter, nine-year-old Alyssa, home with family so her school year isn’t disrupted.
Costs for the trip to Toronto are high for the family — about $700 for Matt’s flight, $4,890 for a short-term apartment rental, plus food and ground transportation costs. Norah and Shauna’s flights are covered through Hope Air, a charity that helps people in rural areas with flights for medical reasons.
Over the next year, Norah will need to go to Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto a total of 15 times. Four of them will be for surgeries.
Because of Norah’s medical problems, Shauna and Matt are unable to work full time. Both work at the Nova Scotia Community College Marconi Campus; Shauna part-time in the library and Matt does casual work for the students’ association.
This is why the couple decided to start a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of the trip for the cornea transplant. Although the family will be paying more than $6,000 in expenses, they are asking for $5,000 to cover the short-term rental.
“I don’t want to be greedy … $5,000 just seemed like a good amount,” said Matt.
“We’re thankful for any bit we get. Maybe some day we’ll be in the position to pay it forward. There’s always people who need help,” added Shauna.