By Rebecca Chitolie
THIS GIRL beat school bullies by raising £15K to travel to America for a new robotic eye that glows in the dark.
Nine-year old Myah Hauxwell from Mansfield, Nottingham was born with severe microphthalmia, which meant she was born with only one eye. She has had 24 surgeries and procedures since birth and in December 2023 managed to raise over £15K for a bionic eye from the US to help her confidence.
Microphthalmia, also known as small eye syndrome, is a condition that causes the eye not to develop during pregnancy. This condition is rare, with approximately 30 babies born with this condition in the UK every year.
Myah is blind in one eye, has multiple scars on her stomach from skin grafts and since enduring unsuccessful operations she has had to wear a clear conformer, a shell that helps to maintain the shape and space of the socket, which previously caused her to be bullied in school.
The bullying severely impacted Myah’s mental health, to the extent that she sometimes refused to leave the house for fear of people seeing her missing eye.
Inspired by her role models such as professional England football player Jill Scott and professional England goalkeeper Mary Earps, Myah has refused to let the bullies win.
Her mother Lauren (36) an aesthetician, managed to raise £15K for the new eye.
The family spent six days in the US, where three eyes were made for Myah by ocularist Dr John Stople at Burbank California LA.
In total Myah spent 40 hours in the doctor’s chair having the eye fitted and readjusted.
The new robotic eye has transformed Myah’s life, with her now embracing her new look with her eye that has a dilating pupil, one “backup eye” and one “fun eye”.
Her “fun eye” has different meanings to it, and she now wants to do modelling and advocate for those with disabilities, showing that it is OK to be different.
“A love heart is in the centre, for her big heart towards people and the love she has”, said Lauren.
“It is rainbow in colour as there’s always a rainbow after the storm.
“And glow in the dark because she’s a super baby with special power.”
As a result of the crowdfunding campaign, Myah has received a signed Women’s England football shirt from Jill Scott and a personal video message.
Lauren described when found out her daughter had the illness the day she was born, as none of the scans she had during pregnancy showed Myah’s condition.
“When Myah was born, that was the first time I knew that she only had one eye, none of my scans during pregnancy showed that anything was wrong”, said Lauren.
“Her one eye was sunken into her face and didn’t appear to be working properly.
“She is perfect, but I was worried about what the future held.”
Myah received comments daily about her appearance and threatening abuse from bullies at school.
“She receives daily comments about her eye,” said Lauren.
“Walking into a supermarket, people break their necks to look at Myah, and kids say ‘oh look she’s only got one eye’.”
“One child said ‘I’m gonna kick you in your face and break your glasses’.
“People have just said to her, ‘You’re ugly’.”
Lauren described the moment she learnt about the new treatment which transformed their lives.
“When I learnt about this new treatment, the feeling was indescribable and better than I ever imagined”, said Lauren.
“All I was going off was hope, but this became a reality and started our lives again. I’m now forever grateful for everyone who supported us in getting there.
“I have got my baby girl back. She’s now enjoying life and just being a child”, said Lauren.
“She has grown with so much confidence and has started a new school as I removed her from her old one due to bullying.
“She’s now making new friends and has even been wearing her fun eye to show her new class.
“She wants to leave the house, she has gone back to all of her hobbies which are singing, dance, football and drama.
“She’s happy to go out and meet friends. She now wants to do modelling and show the world how it’s OK to be different.”
Lauren explained how the robotic eye is a cosmetic solution.
“The digital iris and dilating pupil are just the shell that’s been solely moulded and hand painted for her”, said Lauren.
“It took six days or 40 hours for the new eye to be implanted.
“She had her mould made, then it had to be shaped to fit correctly, hand painted and had hundreds of fittings.
“She did have one infection but luckily she is recovering now, it became very sore and swollen at one point, but the end result is phenomenal.
“Dr John Stople is just the best. He treated us like family and went above and beyond for Myah.”
ENDS
