Carmelo Yearwood and his mother came to the South Carolina Commission for the Blind (SCCB) because he had a severe vision impairment in his right eye and rapidly declining vision in his left due to corneal thinning. Carmelo needed specialized care that his family could not afford without insurance. And without treatment, he could become legally blind.
SCCB services can assist individuals with visual impairments who meet financial need requirements. Through this support, Carmelo was able to receive corneal cross-linking surgery and was also fitted with scleral lenses in both eyes. Scleral lenses are a type of larger, rigid contact lens that improve vision and help protect the cornea.
The result has been “life changing,” says Carmelo’s mother, Alana Jensen.
“One of the most meaningful moments was watching Carmelo look at his hands, seeing them clearly again, and smiling from ear to ear,” she says.Carmelo’s joy and renewed confidence in that moment brought her to tears.
“Carmelo can see out of both eyes again. That transformation is nothing short of a miracle for our family.”
Alana says that even during the most difficult moments, Carmelo never allowed his vision challenges to define him.
“He remained positive, resilient, and determined to keep moving forward.”
At Hillcrest High School, Carmelo balanced demanding commitments and academic performance. He maintained a 4.6 GPA, competed in wrestling, and played an active role in the marching band.
Currently a sophomore, Carmelo plans to pursue a degree in engineering at Clemson University.
“Your support did more than provide medical care,” says Alana. “You gave my son the gift of sight, independence, and a promising future. As a parent, there are no words that can fully capture how much that means to me.”