THE PARENTS of a boy born without eyes who recently launched a fund to help raise €300,000 for their son’s treatment have thanked Irish people for their overwhelming generosity and support.
Jacob Nowak was born in Millstreet, Co Cork, last August to Mariusz and Wiola Novak. The couple are Polish nationals who have been living and working in Ireland since 2006.
Jacob suffers from an exceptionally rare condition called anophthalmia, whereby his eyes never formed in their sockets before his birth.
There is treatment available involving the insertion of eye expanders to stimulate orbital growth and ocular prostheses but funding is not currently available from the HSE. Jacob will need an operation every three months for about six years. The community of Millstreet is rallying behind the family to raise funds for Jacob’s treatment.
They have set up a website, www.babyjacob.ie, to highlight his plight and have also established a special appeal fund where donations can be accepted.
