Praying for a miracle - Blind mother battles Graves’ disease while raising children alone

At 37, Tiesha Milne, a single mother of two, faces a life filled with challenges that most could hardly imagine.

Blind since the age of five, nearly 30 years later she was diagnosed with Graves' disease. With the autoimmune disorder, the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland, causing it to produce excessive thyroid hormone. This set off a chain of other health complications.

"Doctors are saying I developed the Graves' disease from I was child which no one knew, then that led to blindness at age five. Then by time I reach 11, I hear I have scoliosis. All my life I have been going with so much, maybe it didn't have to get this bad," she lamented. After her mother's passing, Milne was placed in the care of her grandmother, who she said had little understanding of her specific health needs.

"I was [my mother's] only daughter, and she took care of me. She knew about my eye condition and I even heard she was looking for someone to help me before she passed," Milne explained.

Milne lives with fear that her children - a 15-year-old son and one-year-old daughter - will grow up without her, especially since she lost her own mother at a young age.

"My mom died when I was five. I didn't have a mother growing up, so I just want my children to have that experience of having a mother in their life," she said. Despite the serious health struggles, and warnings from doctors about potential complications, she refuses to give in.

"I wake up every morning giving thanks," she said. "Sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but I push myself to be here for my children." She told THE STAR that but for a brief moment when her son was born, she has never seen her children, and has to rely on the description of others to imagine what they look like.

"It sound weird ... the doctors were shocked because I really did see my son. I told the doctors that a bloodshot was in eye. They were really shocked. It was just a miracle" she added, cracking a smile.

Now, navigating the healthcare system on her own, she hopes to stabilise her condition and improve her quality of life. Living with Graves' disease has been challenging, as even changes in climate worsen her symptoms.

"I can't even get too excited because my heart starts to beat too fast," she said. "I experience heavy breathing and severe weight loss, but you see even right now, it's hard for me to talk."

She initially received treatment at the University Hospital of the West Indies, but she said medication only provided temporary relief. Doctors later recommended surgery, but that required cutting.

"I didn't want that. I am afraid of cuts, I don't want any cutting," she said. "They then advised me to seek medical care elsewhere."

Through her own research, Milne identified the Clayman Thyroid Centre in Florida, which offers robotic thyroid surgery. The minimally invasive procedure uses robotic arms and 3D imaging to remove thyroid tissue through small incisions, often made under the arm or behind the ear. While she prefers this method, the cost of the procedure, which is about US$1,800 (approximately J$287,000) presented another major obstacle for her. Unable to raise the funds, she postponed the surgery, a decision further complicated when she got pregnant with her daughter.

"I couldn't do any surgery while pregnant," she explained. Now, one year later, she is again seeking to undergo the operation, as the condition, if left untreated, can cause problems for the heart and other organs.

"I just want to get it done so I can be here longer for my children. It's hard being a single mother, and I can't do regular work. I do have some CXCs, and I try small cooking events, but most times all I get are promises. But I keep trying anything you know," Milne said.

"I am trusting God that everything will work out. The surgery is scheduled for February, and I just want to raise the money before then," she added.

Persons wishing to assist Tiesha Milne may call her at 876-403-2215.