Editor’s Note: Posting and Toasting contributor Andrew Polaniecki’s son, Asher, is facing a rare eye disease that threatens his vision. The Polaniecki family has created a GoFundMe to help cover the cost of specialized treatment in Switzerland. You can find the fundraiser link here.
For several years, Andrew Polaniecki has been part of the Posting and Toasting community. You’ll recognize him through his writing, his interviews, and his deep appreciation for Knicks history (especially haircuts . . . always
with the haircuts . . .).
Today, please consider supporting Andrew and his family during an unimaginably difficult time.
Andrew’s eight-year-old son, Asher, has been diagnosed with keratoglobus, an extremely rare degenerative connective tissue disease that causes the corneas to become dangerously thin and fragile. By the time doctors identified the condition, Asher had already lost most of the vision in his right eye due to severe scarring. Without treatment, his remaining vision is at risk.
After consulting with specialists, Andrew and his wife, Julia, learned that Asher’s best chance to preserve his vision is a specialized corneal cross-linking procedure performed at the ELZA Institute in Zurich, Switzerland. The procedure was specifically developed for patients whose corneas are too thin for the standard treatment protocols used in the United States.
The treatment itself costs $65,000 and is not covered by insurance. When travel, lodging, and follow-up care are included, the family expects the total cost of treatment to approach $95,000.
Anyone who has spent time in this community knows that basketball is only part of what unites us. Over the years, The House That Seth Built has celebrated life in all its many forms together. We just experienced the ultimate joy of basketball fandom together! In honor of the Knicks winning a championship, why not celebrate with some goodwill and donate to Asher’s GoFundMe? Anything you can afford will be appreciated—and if you can’t donate, perhaps you would repost it so that someone else can?
Most importantly, please keep Asher, Andrew, Julia, and their entire family in your thoughts as they prepare for the next stage of this journey. Thank you for being the kind of community that shows up when it matters most.
