UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

My 35 yr old single son had his corneal transplant done in Jan 2012 and still has his stitches in place. Some had to be replaced a few weeks ago as they had started to loosen. He has been on immunisuppressants and the usual eyedrops since the op.
His employers "let him go" after the statutary 7mths and he is now on benefits of £71 a week as this is what the government say you can live on.
He is not able to return to his previous work as a joiner, and never will, as it is not a suitable environment for his condition.
I have been shocked at the lack of follow on support he has not been given. He is now depressed and terribly worried as to his future prospects.
It will be 18 months before the stitches can be removed. Surely he should be receiving support or retraining or any input at all.
We , his parents are having to help support him or he would have had to give up his home, he receives £14 weekly to pay off the interest but still needs to find difference. His car has gone as he cannot afford to run it, we live in a rural area with no alternative local transport. He has lost confidence in himself as a person and sees no end to his problems.
Any hope?

Absolutely there is hope!

I had my transpalnts in 2003 and 2005 and, although the recovery period was long, I have emerged with my full time job intact, my sight better than it has ever been (although I do still need to have optical correction from both contact lenses and glasses), and a healthy relationship with the hospital clinic where I am known and my condition is understood.

Every good wish

Andrew

Since my grafts neary 25 years ago, I have been working the past 20 years with relatively few problems.

I do have a question;

aberlady wrote:He is not able to return to his previous work as a joiner, and never will, as it is not a suitable environment for his condition.

Who said this?

Two years post graft I started an industrial placement for a Government department working down sewers and since then I have worked in all sorts of dusty environment with absolutly no ill effects. Provided the correct personal protection equipment is used which anyone would use even if they hadn't had a graft the eyes are fully protected from any air born artefacts that could get in the eye.

Action For Blind Peopleis a charity that may be able to advise on retraining and so on or Acces to Work through the Job Centre, but personally with the variety of jobs that I have had over the years I see no reason your son would be unable to do the job he once did.

Thank you Gareth B Perhaps I did not explain fully, my son suffers many allergies including colophony which is in wood dust and may other household products. The workshop my son works in is also uses MDF which he is highly allergic to. This is the reason he takes the immunisuppressant drug. His work involves heavy lifting and this is something he has to avoid also.
Anyway they have paid him off as they are entitled to do after 7mths sick leave.
The recommendation not to return to his previous work was given by his consultant.

Hi aberlady
I just happened to be surfing the net tonight and I stumbled onto this great site looking for information about the possibility of having laser correction to the grafts that I had done in '90 and '91 (I was just wondering if it was possible to stop wearing spectacles, more out of curiosity than anything, because I doubt I would have it done!)

So anyway, I saw your post and joined up! I just wanted you to know that I was 30 when I had the first graft and I returned to work after 5 weeks and a similar time frame a year later after the 2nd op and I have experienced no problems at all with working. I didn't do any heavy lifting for a few months, but other than that, it was business as usual (although avoiding dust has got to be a good idea!)

I hope things work out for him anyway. Maybe he needs the support of a place like this! I remember that I felt quite low at times after the operation, because someone, somewhere had paid quite a high price for my sight after all.

Hello sutts

Welcome to the forum.

Andrew MacLean wrote:Hello sutts

Welcome to the forum.

Thank-you!

Than you Sutts for your encouraging reply.
The problem is our son can no longer work at his trade, joinery, which he has been in since leaving school at 16 yrs. It is all the working life he has known and now has to start from scratch at something, we don't know what, at the age of 35yrs. Who would employ a person with limited eyesight who cannot lift heavy weights and with no experience of any work other than that which he has done for 20yrs?

Without a doubt! Everybody is capable of something and doing it well! Some of the world best musicians are blind, whether they sing, play instruments or both and people in distant places that carve perfect statutes from hard materials!

Hi Aberlady,

I can completely understand why you think there is no working life when you have KC. I have had my fair shares of employment issues in the past 4 years....I was mainly working behind a computer in manufacturing and transport environments.

I would like to suggest that your son gets in touch with Action For Blind people...not sure where you are based in the uk but my local group have been AMAZING at helping me overcome diffifult employers etc etc.
Employers have to follow the rules of the DISABILITY DISCRIMNATION ACT.....or its replacement which I cant quite remember the title of right now.
Action for Blind will also help you with funding streams for re training. self employment, welfare benefits, sensory aids to help in the home and work place. They will also put you intouch with Acess To Work - a goverment department/fund to enable people with disabilities return to work...providing assistance with transport and funding for adaptations to be made in the workplace to accomodate disabled people.
I cant sing their praises enough,,,they are marvellous!
Hope this helps