New Vision Gives Student New Perspective

Six years ago, Francisco was living in Mexico with his family when he picked up a bottle floating by in the river. He opened the bottle, which exploded in his face because it was full of sulfuric acid. The near-fatal explosion severely damaged his corneas, blinding him.

Francisco remained blind until he met Dr. Ming Wang, one of the few people in the United States able to perform the surgery that would enable Francisco to see again.

Francisco, his mother and his teacher, Carole Klein, traveled to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., where Wang works, and where Wang completed a series of eight surgeries to repair one of Francisco's damaged eyes.

Today, Francisco, whose last name is withheld for privacy reasons, has his vision back in his right eye. His distance vision is 20/40. "Francisco is doing wonderfully well," Wang said. "After all these surgeries, he's finally seeing 20/25 and his eye is crystal clear."

Francisco, who can read a computer now without having to put his face up against the screen, also is happy with his surgery. "Now I can see better and see how (people) look," he said. "I feel happy because I can see better."

The surgery should allow Francisco to see permanently. "The stem cells (that guard the cornea from scar tissue) are alive and well and will maintain his vision for the rest of his life," Wang said.

But the road to vision was not without its hurdles. Francisco and his family were not able to pay for the last surgery after the funding source for the other operations had to pull out. The operation cost $11,000, even after Wang waived his fees. That is when the students and teachers at CHHS got together and helped raise the money Francisco needed, starting Funds for Francisco.

The CHHS students raised money by sending letters to family and friends and organizing fund-raising clubs.

Others also got involved, including some UNC students who donated more than $300 to help Francisco, and the Knights of Columbus, which donated $2,500. "I read the story in the paper and wanted to help," said UNC sophomore Catherine Jones.

The students and donors went above and beyond the $11,000 needed, raising a total of $18,000. "The primary source of funding was the fact that the students called the newspapers and people mailed in contributions," Klein said.

The leftover money from the surgery will be used to pay for follow-up care, because Francisco has to travel to Nashville every five weeks, Klein said.

And as Francisco's journey nears an end, he remains an inspiration to others in a similar situation, Wang said.

Wang's staff tells Francisco's story to nervous patients coming in for surgery. "Dr. Wang's staff is able to talk about (Francisco's operation) and reassure others coming in for surgery," Klein said.

But Francisco himself is reaping the benefits of his surgery as well because he is able to see his friends and family.

"It's exciting because I never imagined how people looked," Francisco said.

Klein said Francisco was thrilled by his new view of the world. "Everything he sees that he's never seen before is another gift."

The City Editor can be reached

at citydesk@unc.edu.