When our 60^th anniversary year began, we heard from lots of supporters and Moorfields patients who had fond memories of the Friends of Moorfields and our work – but we were delighted and surprised to hear from a patient whose association with Moorfields began before the Friends of Moorfields existed at all!

Sandra first became a Moorfields patient at the age of 15, following an injury while riding her bike. “I was cycling home from school when a person in a parked car opened their door and knocked me off my bicycle. Within a few days I had a black shadow in my vision in my right eye. My GP sent me to the eye clinic at Ashford Hospital, the specialist checked my vision and insisted I went straight to Moorfields as it was serious. I remember my uncle drove me there with my sister accompanying me. I was seen straight away by a doctor and given lots of drops to dilate my pupils and enable them to see the backs of my eyes. The doctor had a light on his head and held a magnifier over my eyes to check the back.”

Sandra was diagnosed with a detached retina and admitted. “I spent three weeks lying flat on my back and staying as still as possible. This was to avoid any fluid build-up under the retina and to keep it flat. After three weeks I had Light Coagulation Treatment (an early form of laser treatment) which sealed the retina back in place. Sadly, after a few weeks I was back to square one – the retina had detached again. Back at Moorfields I saw Mr Fison – he was wonderful. He explained I would need surgery this time and so I was admitted again.”

Following her surgery, Sandra was transferred to Moorfields Highgate to recover. “It was a lovely old house with huge fireplaces and a garden. We also had occupational therapy there, I remember making a basket still with my eyes padded up. The operation was a success and I returned home.”

Some months later, Sandra was offered contact lenses, and attended the contact lens clinic for many years afterward, under the care of Mr Montague Rubens, and later Mr Guillen and Dr Woodward. In her 40s she had cataract surgery to both eyes, at Moorfields City Road.

“The result for me was amazing as I no longer needed my contact lenses and for the first time when I woke in the morning I could see around me clearly. I remember going home on the tube and reading the list of stations on the platform. I was delighted. Since then I’ve had annual check-ups in Clinic 12 and more recently at the Medical Retina and Diagnostic Hub every six months.”

Sandra’s relationship with Moorfields Eye Hospital began shortly before the Friends of Moorfields were founded, and over the years she’s had the opportunity to watch us grow from strength to strength alongside the hospital itself. “I’ve seen many changes,” she told us, “from ladies selling knitted items off trestle tables to the Friends of Moorfields Shop. Bright, airy, colourful clinics and wonderful support teams.”

To help us celebrate our 60^th anniversary, Sandra took part in our £60 for 60 years fundraising challenge – we asked supporters to do anything they chose to raise at least £60 for us in this special year. Sandra decided to get family and friends to sponsor her to do a six-kilometer walk.

“I started at the Air Forces Memorial on Egham Hill. We walked down through woods to the bottom then along Langham Pond, through flowered hay fields on to the Thames. Then back up the hill via the willow sculptures on the meads, climbing up to and passing the Kennedy memorial and returning fairly puffed to our start point!”

Thanks to generous sponsorship from her family and friends, Sandra raised an incredible £325 for the Friends of Moorfields.

“I’m so grateful for all the treatment I’ve had over the years and will continue to support Friends of Moorfields in the future,” said Sandra.

Thank you so much Sandra, both for your fundraising efforts and for sharing your story!