Phil Johns, Associate Director, Mainstay Residential

“My youngest daughter Leila arrived in the world on 31st January 2012, unfortunately she was born with a rare genetic condition called Microphthalmia in her left eye. In a nutshell this condition, that has no known cause, means that Leila’s eye stopped developing within the womb and as a result she is completely blind on that side. With the eye only partly developed she wears a painted prosthetic shell over the top to both ensure her physical features develop symmetrically and also for aesthetic reasons.

This has been an extremely difficult journey for all my family already, and of course this is a lifelong condition that will always remain. Moorfields Eye Hospital have been involved since Leila was 3 months old and every member of staff we have seen have devoted themselves to our girl completely. The level of sophistication in the equipment required to treat such conditions is fantastic, and in turn the associated costs are equally as mind boggling.

Moorfields is one of the leading eye hospitals in Europe, and indeed the world; they have amazing facilities to provide treatment and also have an extensive research arm that is at the leading edge of innovation. Any money that can be contributed to this amazing hospital would be greatly appreciated and put towards the quality of life of many individuals with extremely severe conditions”.