High-kicking kids raise thousands for eye patient

Staff Writer

By takesha pettus

High-kicking kids raise
thousands for eye patient

SOUTH RIVER — A borough woman may soon be seeing a little more clearly, thanks to a group of high-kicking kids.

For 14 years, Maria Colaco has had an eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa, a rare condition that causes the deterioration of pigment in the eye.

The 48-year-old South River resident came from Goa, India, in 1988 in hopes of receiving treatment for her condition.

Twelve years later, help may be on the way, thanks to the kids and a physician specializing in eye treatment in Arkansas.

Thursday, Nick Patakos, owner of the Family Karate Center, North Brunswick, opened his doors to host a kick-a-thon in an effort to help Colaco.

"It was wonderful," said Colaco.

The kick-a-thon hoped to raise $7,000 towards Colaco’s surgery and air fare to Arkansas, with students of the karate school kicking as many kicks as the dollars they raised. The group of 200-300 kids did better than that.

In total, the kick-a-thon raised $9,750.

"It was a real miracle for me," said Colaco.

Patakos said the kick-a-thon helped the kids learn a lesson in giving to others.

Colaco was once a teacher in India until the eye condition prevented her from teaching anymore.

Although she is legally blind, Colaco can see shapes and uses a magnifying glass to read.

She is expected to head to New York today to get a second opinion on her condition before venturing to Arkansas to have the surgery.

If approved, Colaco will undergo two weeks of treatment in Arkansas to try and repair her sight. There are two possible procedures that can be performed. Doctors could inject ozone into the blood or place a microchip into her brain to increase blood flow in the eye.

After the initial treatment, Colaco said she will continue to have treatments every four to six months.