Paul Haney and his proud dad, Reed
Reed Haney had no idea something was wrong with his newborn son in 1992. By the time doctors detected congenital glaucoma, Paul was 3, and his eyes already showed signs of significant damage.
Throughout Paul's childhood he endured multiple surgeries and his family worked tirelessly, particularly his late grandmother, to obtain vision services for Paul due to his vision impairment from glaucoma.
Paul relied upon skills he learned from Teachers of the Visually Impaired to help him cope with his vision loss and succeed both inside and outside of the classroom.
Today, Paul is 26. He had another major eye surgery within the past couple of years, but right now, his vision is stable. Reed has been by his son's side every step of the way, as a father and an advocate.
"It's important to me to inform people, especially parents," says Reed. "If Paul's condition had been caught earlier, immediate surgery could have likely saved most of his vision. Get your child's eye exam as early as possible, in the first six months. You can literally save your child's eyesight."
Born in Colorado, Paul completed high school with honors in Florida and received an academic scholarship from Florida State University (FSU). Paul obtained his bachelor's degree in music from FSU in December 2015 and completed his master's degree in education from FSU in December 2018.
To honor his son, Reed is leaving a generous gift to Glaucoma Research Foundation in his will. Setting up a bequest was easy, he says. "I simply spoke to my estate attorney and included the Glaucoma Research Foundation in my will."
Paul is now working as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and Orientation and Mobility Specialist in the Portland, Oregon, area.
Glaucoma Research Foundation is incredibly grateful for Reed's meaningful and most thoughtful gift in honor of Paul to ensure future resources to advance our research programs.
Like Reed, you can pay tribute to a loved one with glaucoma through a gift in your will and help fund research to fund a cure. For more information, please contact Nancy Graydon at 415-986-3162 ext. 231 or ngraydon@glaucoma.org.