Stories

• Bettie Griffin’s Story:

  

  
  

  “It has been a difficult journey but KLEF and the Lions Club have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help ease this journey for me.”

In August of 2010 my right eye began to open a little too much.  In the beginning it was just for a short period of time and then it would go back to normal.  I attributed it to the stress I was going through at the time.  About a month later I woke one morning and my eyelid was completely closed.  By the end of that day, the eyelid was laying on my face and I could feel the air on my eyeball.  I was very upset, not knowing where to turn.  I had no insurance and was rebuilding my life after a divorce.

I remembered hearing about the Lions Club and how they helped people with eye problems.  Through a series of phone calls, I was put in touch with Dr. Rand Paul, in Bowling Green.  I could not see to drive anymore, so the Lions Club helped get me there.   Dr. Paul diagnosed me with ocular cancer.  It was a difficult ride back to Paducah.  Knowing I had cancer and not knowing how I could pay for this or if I would make it.   Dr. Paul’s office called me and told me that he wanted me to go to Louisville to see Dr. Nunery.   He diagnosed me with ocular myasthenia gravis in January, which was later changed to myasthenia gravis.  Through every step of my appointments, including the surgeries and the follow-ups, the Lions Club made sure that I had everything that I needed; a place to stay every time I came to Louisville, food and my expenses to and from my home in Paducah.

In January my surgeon, Dr. Tezel, and Dr. Halperin, the radiation oncologist, performed a surgery known as Plaque Radiation. The implanting took place on a Monday, with the removal of the plaque on the following Friday.   I was very scared of this procedure, but was put at ease by these doctors.  They explained it to me in great detail and I knew I was in good hands.

It has been a difficult journey but KLEF and the Lions Club have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help ease this journey for me.  The cancer has now begun to shrink and my future is looking brighter.   I am slowly getting back to my art.  There have been so many people that have touched my life in this process and I wish that I could “Thank” each one of them personally.  All of the doctors and each one of their staff, I thank you for your kindness and understanding (and the hugs) at each appointment.

It makes it easier knowing that,  if I have to go through this, others will learn and benefit because of my illnesses.   I can only hope that this program can continue.   It is giving me my life back!
   

        – Bettie Griffin, Paducah, Ky