At seventeen months old, Marissa Gonzalez was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma – the first turning point in her lifelong journey with this cancer syndrome. Today, as President of WE C Hope USA, she celebrates 32 years free from eye cancer, and shares the latest chapter of her cancer survivorship story, with two appeals to all in our community.
Screening children’s eyes with the Fundal “Red” Reflex is key to early detection of retinoblastoma, but until recently, it was difficult to deliver in many countries. Dr Andrew Blaikie, ophthalmologist and clinical lead for the Arclight Project at the University of St Andrews, describes the importance of this simple exam, and how the Arclight improves eye health access and outcomes for children with eye cancer around the world.
Daisy’s Eye Cancer Fund (now World Eye Cancer Hope) evolved from the generosity of one family sharing hope with another at opposite ends of the earth, creating light within the darkness that retinoblastoma brought to their lives. Rb Survivor and Daisy Fund co-founder, Abby White, shares Rati’s story, and how her experience led to our hope-building work today.
In the first half of this article, we met Rati and Daisy, two young children with retinoblastoma who inspired the foundation of Daisy’s Eye Cancer Fund in 2004. In part 2, Rb Survivor and Daisy Fund co-founder, Abby White, reflects on what happened after Rati died – our journey to World Eye Cancer Hope (WE C Hope), One Rb World, and advocacy for all children, survivors and families.
