Donations in memory of former patient make a meaningful difference

A generous donation totalling £500 has recently been made to support patients with glaucoma, following a funeral collection held in memory of Irmgard Rehacek, a former long-standing patient of Mr Tarun Sharma and his team.

Irmgard and her daughter, Karin Rehacek, had requested that donations be made in lieu of flowers at her funeral, with contributions from friends and loved ones kindly donated to Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity, in recognition of the care she received.

Following complex glaucoma surgery performed by Mr Sharma when Irmgard was in her 90s, together with ongoing treatment and monitoring, she was able to retain some of her vision for the remainder of her life. Although surgery at this age is uncommon, it was considered appropriate in Irmgard’s case and helped to preserve her sight.

The family asked friends and loved ones to make donations in Irmgard’s memory to support future patients living with glaucoma. Mr Sharma and his team are already planning to use this generous contribution towards additional equipment to further enhance the care and experience of patients in the future.

Mr Sharma, Consultant Ophthalmologist, said: “Caring for Irmgard and helping her retain her vision throughout the remainder of her life was a privilege. Glaucoma can be a challenging condition, and preserving sight often requires complex surgery, careful follow-up and a strong relationship of trust between patients and their clinical team.

“To learn that Irmgard and her family wished to support my chosen charity in recognition of the care she received is deeply moving. At such a difficult time for the family, their thoughtfulness and generosity mean a great deal to me personally and to the entire team.

“As doctors, we are privileged to be able to make a meaningful difference to people’s lives, and gestures such as this remind us of the importance of our work. I am sincerely grateful to Irmgard’s family and friends for choosing to honour her memory in a way that will support other patients living with glaucoma. We will ensure that their kindness is put to good use.”

This generous donation will make a meaningful difference to patients. Our sincere thanks go to Irmgard’s family and friends for their support and for choosing to honour her memory by helping others.