Clara’s Story: A New Chapter

But at Clara’s one-week checkup, their pediatrician sensed something wasn’t right and sent them straight to a pediatric ophthalmologist in the same medical complex. “That is where the hardest day of our lives began,” her mom shared. Within hours, the family was hearing words no parent is prepared for: tumor and cancer. Clara was scheduled for her first MRI at just a week and a half old.

Thankfully, the MRI came back clear. 

As Clara grew, her family began learning more about her right eye and what it can mean for a child to navigate the world with physical differences.

After Clara’s MRI, her family continued pursuing the right next steps. At six weeks old, Clara underwent her first surgery. Her doctor explained that her eye was extremely premature, and because he could not say with certainty that she had no vision in her right eye, he did not recommend conformers or a scleral shell at that time. The plan was to wait until Clara was old enough to communicate what she could, or couldn’t, see.

Fast-forward to 2020. Clara was now in school, and like all parents, her family wanted to protect her. “Like all parents, we wanted to guard her heart,” her mom shared. As children’s natural curiosity showed up in everyday moments, Clara began getting questions.

“Why does your eye look like that?”

“Does it hurt?”

Clara wore glasses that helped magnify her little eye, and her parents did everything they could to prepare her with words and confidence. Each year, they made sure her teachers read Different Is Awesome, a book that celebrates physical differences and helps children navigate their curiosity with kindness.

During Clara’s K5 year, her family tried a shell again, but the experience was traumatic for Clara. The shell that was made for her wasn’t custom. While she could wear it for a few days at a time, her eye simply could not tolerate it, and putting it back in became another cycle of pain, fear, and tears.

One day, through sobs, Clara said, “I don’t care what my eye looks like! God made me this way, and He thinks I’m perfect.” Her mom added, “Those were her words, not mine.”

At that moment, her parents knew they needed to stop the process. It wasn’t worth the emotional toll. They promised themselves that if they ever tried again, it would be when Clara was ready.

Then, in early 2024, everything changed. After a comment from a classmate, Clara told her mom she wanted to try wearing a shell again. 

Her mom began researching and talking with other parents, and the next closest practice was Carolina Eye Prosthetics with Dr. Anna. As she researched, “it became instantly clear this was where we were supposed to be.”

Clara’s dad took her to the first appointment because, as her mom shared, “we knew my emotions would overwhelm me.” Dr. Anna explained that Clara “had to be in the right headspace for any of this to be successful.”

That first appointment with the new conformers was extremely difficult. Clara remembered everything from the first attempt with a former ocularist and was terrified that she might be crying, screaming, or thrashing in fear. But Dr. Anna gently guided her through it step by step, until Clara walked out with her first set of conformers.

In August 2024, Clara returned to North Carolina to have her first custom scleral shell made. “The tears that day were tears of pure joy,” her mom shared. “Knowing she could start middle school without facing constant comments eased a weight I had carried for years.” Over the first year, the goal was simple: “to wear it as long as she could.”

At her one-year follow-up in August 2025, they learned she needed more volume in the shell, and Clara worked toward learning to manage it on her own. “She met every milestone with flying colors.”

Today, Clara’s family looks back and sees years of prayer, patience, and small steps that finally led to a new season for their daughter. For them, this was never just about a prosthesis. It was about relief, readiness, and watching Clara move forward with greater ease as she grew.

As her mom put it, “Carolina Eye Prosthetics, you have truly been a God-send.”

If you’re in the research stage like Clara’s family was, a helpful next step is seeing how other patients have navigated similar questions. You can also learn more about what pediatric care looks like at Carolina Eye Prosthetics, including how we approach comfort, readiness, and long-term growth.