Cornea Associates Comes Running!
At Cornea Associates, we take pride in our ability to not only treat eyes, but offer support to our patients and their families. We were very lucky to be invited to support a local organization, fearlessHOPE, that benefits local patients and families of children with chronic health conditions or new complex diagnoses. While this organization is new, they’ve already reached out and connected three local families, who also happen to have little ones with complex eye conditions.
One of the most important things to consider when it comes to organizations like this one is to raise not only support, but awareness. Cornea Associates and Dr. C. Bradley Bowman were lucky enough to help do just that on January 16th.
fearlessHOPE held their First Annual 5k Resolution Run in Frisco. Cornea Associates and Dr. Bowman were lucky to be a part of it. Several of our staff participated in the 5k or 1mi Fun Run and Dr. Bowman headed right over after a post-op clinic to cheer them on and show his support. We were even lucky enough to be joined by one of the organization’s beneficiaries, little Finley Fears! She was quite the little runner, took part in both the Fun Run and the 5k, and certainly gave our staff a run for their money.
One of our Surgical Coordinators, Cindy Rosser, had this to say: "Finley has had a special place in my heart since the very first day I 'met' her, when she was just a couple of weeks old! Each time she came to see Dr. Bowman (probably a dozen or more times in the first couple of months), when I would hear her crying, I would pop in from Triage to see if I could help. I would hold her and rock, trying to soothe her, while Dr.. Bowman spoke with her mom and dad about her condition. (I think I might have even called her 'my Finley'!) 
Even though I haven't seen her much lately, I keep up with her on Facebook through her mom, and it warms my heart more than I can express to see her doing and accomplishing things that I know she must be seeing to do! It is something that I am profoundly proud to be a part of... the incredible surgeons in our practice who give children like Finley and Hazel sight and hope.
Going to the run was just something I felt compelled to do... both on behalf of Cornea and to show my support for the foundation that supports these little ones."
One of our Lasik Counselors, Sonia Runyon, was quick to say: "The decision to participate was easy to make. Finley has been a patient of ours for 4 years. She was in our office the week before the run and she told me all the details. What an inspiration this family is to other families that need hope when going through similar situations. Little Finley told me, 'I was born blind, but now I can see.' What a precious gift of sights. I am blessed to be a part of this practice." 
One of our newest additions to the Cornea staff, Patient Coordinator Lili Martinez, jumped at the chance to run along with the other members of our staff. She said: "I just started working for Cornea and I love the way we are so involved with our patients, so I couldn't help but want to participate! Running the 5k was an amazing experience and it felt great showing families that have children with conditions like these that we care about them even outside of the workplace!"
At Cornea Associates, we understand that being a sub-specialty practice means we see a lot of special and/or complicated cases. Diagnoses like the sort received by patients and families that are benefitted by fearlessHOPE can be extremely troubling, humbling, and surprising and that often times patients need all the help they can get. Organizations like this one also take the extra step in bringing like families together and promoting a network of support for parents and families dealing with patients will similar issues. At Cornea Associates we believe that getting through difficult times is made easier when you’re not doing it alone.
For more information about this organization, who and how they help, and how you can help, check out fearlesshope.org.
