View Brook's Story
Brook's story
“I never saw the glass come towards my face,” Brook recalls. “Then everything went red, then black.”
But Brook’s family refused to give up. In their search for help, they discovered Sydney Eye Hospital — the largest specialist eye hospital in the southern hemisphere. It was here that Brook’s journey of healing began.
Her treating clinician, Professor Andrew Chang, told her: “Your eye doesn’t look good, but we’ll do our best to take care of you.” That moment gave Brook hope.
Over the following weeks, Brook underwent seven surgeries — including one that spanned Christmas Eve into Christmas Day. While others were unwrapping gifts, Brook was lying flat, healing with oil and gas in her eye.
Today, Brook is a mother of four. She returns to Sydney Eye Hospital for annual checkups and remains deeply grateful for the care she received. Although her sight loss is severe, her eye was saved — thanks to the expertise and dedication of our multi-disciplinary team.“You don’t know how much you’ll miss your vision until it’s gone,” she tells her children. “Protect your eyes.”
Why your support matters
Brook’s story highlights the importance of timely access to specialist trauma care. Sydney Eye Hospital provides world-class treatment to patients facing urgent and complex eye injuries — but the need is growing, especially during the busy Christmas period.
This year, we’re launching a new initiative: the Trauma Fellowship Program. This two-year, on-call program trains the next generation of ophthalmologists in trauma care, giving our team more capacity to treat patients during peak times like Christmas and New Year.
Fellows play a vital role — managing post-traumatic complications, performing complex reconstructions, and helping patients heal. The program costs $110,000 for a full-time Fellow enabling them to deliver life-changing care, often working around the clock.
Brook’s experience is not unique. Every year, especially during the festive season, our hospital treats patients with urgent and complex eye injuries.
The Sydney Eye Hospital and the Foundation, thank you for your ongoing generosity. Your support helps give the gift that truly matters — the gift of sight.
Give the Gift of Sight
Instead of traditional gifts, consider donating in honour of someone you love. Our “Gift of Sight” cards are a meaningful way to celebrate the season while supporting life-changing care.
Learn more about giving the gift of sight this Christmas
