Luther Burris is not one to sit back. With two teenage boys, a dynamic job in association management, and dozens of passions and hobbies shared with his wife, the 38 year old is always engaged in something meaningful – church, sports, video and board games with the family, preparing a new taco recipe.
So when Luther woke up one spring morning unable to see out of either eye, the anxiety, fear and stress were immediate. An emergency room visit and several follow up appointments later, Luther was diagnosed with Angular Closure Glaucoma, a rare condition for someone his age, especially since there was no family history of glaucoma. His eye pressure was dangerously high, reaching levels that were far above the normal range, causing excruciating pain.
“The optometrist told me that my angles in my eyes were not draining and my eye pressure was in the 50s – the normal range is 10-20,” Luther explained. “He recommended emergency laser surgery that was supposed to be painless but was the complete opposite. He said he was working almost blind because of my dark eye color, and he had to laser both eyes 10 to 15 times. While it repaired by left eye, my right eye was still in extreme pain, so much so that I had to have three more follow surgeries, all still unsuccessful in returning my normal vision. It was scary.”
He would have tried to work through the constant, crushing pain, but vision was essential to his demanding work driving to properties, processing paperwork on the computer, and constantly taking and making phone calls. Immediately without a job – without steady income and affordable health insurance – his wife, Umorow sprung into action figuring out how to meet the family’s immediate needs. Her resourcefulness led her to find Open Cupboard and its Today’s Harvest free, fresh market, just a 10-minute drive from their home.
“It’s not just canned goods. You get a variety of what you need, and we can go as often as we need it,” explained Luther. That reliable, accessible resource proved essential to the family as they managed not only a loss of income but new medical and prescription expenses. In the first couple months of diagnoses and treatment and to rule out other conditions, for example, Luther was prescribed seven types of eye drops and three oral pills at one time, costing around $300 each month.
“Open Cupboard has been an essential help and blessing to my family during this time,” Luther shared. “Words can’t express how much it has helped us. We’re grateful to be able to visit when we need and as often as we need. You never know when you’ll need the resources, and Open Cupboard is always there.”
After six months of procedures, specialist visits, drops and medications, Luther has regained all but 5% of sight in his left eye, but his right eye lags at just 65-70% of vision. The intense inflammation damaged his cataract, requiring another surgery yet this winter.
Despite so much unexpected challenge and much recovery ahead, Luther is lifted by the love of his family, by his faith, and by the good in others. “You have to lean into the people who love you and who you love always but especially in times like these,” Luther said, describing his family as his circle and his core. “Without their love and encouragement I wouldn’t have had motivation to get through to seek help. And shout out to the Today’s Harvest team. The volunteers are always so helpful and accommodating.”
Luther feels how different – special – it is at Today’s Harvest. And he encourages anyone to see for themselves the relief it can bring. “When I go to the pantry, I don’t see a lot of people who look my age or have my skin color. I want to encourage them to try it out: Don’t have pride or an ego or fear. Lean in, because people are here for you.”