A Jacksonville resident and local CNA was recently given the gift of sight after Dr. Rachana Patel removed two large white cataracts from both of her eyes. Prior to the surgery, Mrs. Tammy Pike had lost hope. Out of work for three years and unable to see her beautiful children and grandchild’s faces, she knew she needed to do something.
However, she couldn’t afford the cost of the surgery or the insurance to cover it. And as the situation worsened, she became desperate.
“I started bumping into things and ended up falling twice. My daughter quit her job at Publix to help me perform everyday tasks. It’s really bad when people can’t see, it really is.”
After her appointment with Dr. Patel, she found out they would help cover the cost of the surgery. To say she was grateful is an understatement.
“Dr. Patel and her staff are angels among us. They are wonderful. I’ve always been a nervous person. I was always scared of everything. But Dr. Patel and her staff treated me like part of the family. I don’t know what I would do without them. They are the highest of stars, just excellent.”
She said the surgery was life-altering, allowing her to finally gain more independence and freedom to take care of herself and get back to the work she loves doing.
“I’m most looking forward to going back to work to take care of people. It makes me feel wonderful. I never got to take care of my mama because she passed away so young. I love my patients just like they were my own parents.”
Her renewed vision has done more for her than words can describe.
“You just don’t know. You have to go through it to know what I mean. I can see all the beautiful people I miss. It’s hard to say the words.”