When you receive a cancer diagnosis, time matters. Especially when you’re waiting for access to treatment. 

When Rebecca Brown was diagnosed with a tumor in her right eye in April 2025, she was referred to another facility for treatment. The problem? They couldn’t see her for at least five weeks, and then there would be another six to eight weeks wait for treatment. Rebecca decided there was no way she was going to wait that long, and called UCLA to see if they would work her in. She landed an appointment within five days and had testing and plaque therapy inserted at that appointment.

Traveling from her home in Portland to UCLA with almost no notice would have been a financial burden … fortunately, she learned about the Eye on Grace Foundation through a Facebook group.

“Eye on Grace gave me the funds I needed so I could get treatment sooner, and I’m hoping it will make a difference in my long-term outcome,” she says.

Rebecca is married and has a 13-year-old daughter. She does ultrasounds for high-risk obstetric patients and hasn’t been able to work since May due the silicone oil put in her eye as part of the treatment. She returns to UCLA in late August for tests to see if the tumor is shrinking.

“Who knows, it could literally have saved my life to get treatment so much sooner. It was amazing; a tremendous burden lifted off my shoulders and one less thing to worry about during an incredibly stressful time,” she says.