Dear friends and kind-hearted people,

I am writing to you today with a heart full of hope to ask for your help! At just 12 years old, my son is facing an immense challenge: a rare and progressive eye condition called keratoconus, which has reached an advanced stage.

Keratoconus is a condition in which the cornea – the transparent surface at the front of the eye, responsible for focusing light – progressively thins and loses its spherical shape, becoming conical. Imagine a window through which you look, but which, instead of being perfectly smooth, is distorted and blurred. For Alex, this ‘window’ becomes increasingly distorted, turning the world into a succession of blurred, double images and diffused light.

At 12 years old, Alex’s life is profoundly affected by this condition! At school, he cannot see the blackboard and cannot concentrate on his homework. His blurred vision drastically limits his ability to learn! He cannot recognise his friends’ faces from a distance.

The only chance of restoring his clear vision is a cornea transplant. However, the costs are overwhelming for our family! As a mother, I wish with all my heart to be able to offer him the chance of a fulfilling life, in which he can see smiles, read stories and explore the world.

Every donation, no matter how small, brings us closer to this vital goal! Every act of kindness is a ray of light in his eyes!

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity and support!

With gratitude,

Elena and Alex