Giving Good Days Newsletter – Spring 2026

A Message from Our President

Over the past year, individuals seeking retinal treatments have faced extraordinary challenges. For most, these treatments are not optional. They are essential to preventing blindness, preserving independence, and maintaining quality of life. Yet too often, cost remains an overwhelming barrier to care.

That is why I am grateful that Good Days was able to support more than 100,000 individuals in 2026 through both our Vascular and Neovascular Retinal Disease (VNRD) Copay Program and our Neurodegenerative Retinal Disease (NDRD-FA) Copay Program. Even so, the need far exceeds available resources. More than 400,000 people reached out to us for help, underscoring the growing gap between patients’ needs and the support available to them.

Behind every call, email, and text received by our Care Navigators is a person facing an impossible choice between medical care and everyday necessities. This is something no one should ever have to endure. We continue to work on raising awareness of the ever-growing need and educate national leaders to elevate this issue and advocate for lasting solutions. Access to vision-saving treatment should never depend on a person’s financial circumstances, and we will not stop pushing until that principle becomes reality.

I am also deeply thankful to share that a generous donor has extended a 1:1 matching campaign through 2026, directly benefiting our VNRD Program. Every gift made during this time will have double the impact, helping us reach more individuals in need.

To those navigating illness and financial uncertainty, please know that you are not alone. Good Days remains committed to standing with you.

With gratitude,

Clorinda Walley

President, Good Days

Patient Profile

Jerry, pictured during a trip to Scotland earlier in his life.

Jerry, 89, spent decades building a successful career in what was a new and growing industry—developing incentive and travel reward programs for automotive companies and car dealerships across the Midwest. His work took him throughout the United States and around the world, opening doors to experiences few people ever have.

“I’ve done things that people only dream about,” Jerry says. “Been to destinations and properties I couldn’t afford and was lucky enough to be paid to do it.”

Over the years, his work sent him to 72 countries.

Today, his passions are simpler. “Now that I am retired, I have no interest in travel,” he laughs. He enjoys fishing near his home, where he can walk across the street to a pond and catch catfish, and spending time with his beloved children, grandchildren, and dog, Piper.

In 2015, Jerry was diagnosed with macular degeneration, a condition that threatened his vision and independence. He did his best to afford the treatments, however a time came when he needed help. Jerry learned that there was an organization called Good Days that may be able to help.

“It is a blessing that I don’t have to stop taking the treatments or worry my children with the financial burden,” he says.

Jerry vividly remembers his first interaction with Good Days. “I remember the first conversation I had with them. A young lady was so understanding and had all the patience in the world. I was taken by how professional and friendly she was. It was a wonderful experience.’”

When Jerry later received a letter saying he might not receive funding in 2026 due to limited resources, he called simply to say thank you for the 10 years of assistance Good Days provided. “For all these years, it’s been a godsend. You people have been wonderful,” he said.

Soon after, Jerry learned that he was approved for another year of assistance. It brought overwhelming relief.

“Wow—oh my goodness. That news was incredible,” he says. “It just adds to how grateful I am for Good Days’ support.”

Donate to help people get access to care.→

Partner Profile

Good Days is proud to announce that the Healing Works Foundation has renewed its commitment to support Chronic Disease Day through 2027. This continued partnership strengthens our shared dedication to helping all individuals, and especially those living with chronic and life-altering illnesses, live their best lives possible.

Healing Works Foundation is focused on improving quality of life by addressing the often-overlooked emotional and practical burdens that accompany chronic disease. This work closely

complements Good Days’ mission to ensure that no patient is forced to choose between essential medical care and everyday necessities.

Healing Works Foundation is led by Wayne Jonas, MD, a board-certified family physician and nationally recognized leader in whole-person, integrative health care. Dr. Jonas is a widely published scientific investigator and a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. His career includes senior leadership roles at the National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization, and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

Healing Works Foundation works to make whole person care regular and routine through the development of platforms, programs, tools, and services, with a focus in primary care and oncology.

By supporting Chronic Disease Day, Healing Works Foundation helps amplify awareness, elevate patient voices, and advance a more compassionate, patient-centered approach to care.

We are deeply grateful for their partnership and leadership in standing with patients and families when support matters most. Learn more and access free resources at healingworksfoundation.org.

Key Quarterly Content

Double Your Impact for Vision-Saving Care

We are grateful to share that a generous donor has extended a 1:1 matching campaign through 2026, directly benefiting Good Days’ Vascular and Neovascular Retinal Disease (VNRD) Program. This extraordinary commitment will help ensure patients receive timely access to the vision-saving treatments they need.

For a limited time, every dollar donated will be matched, doubling the impact of your support and allowing Good Days to assist more patients facing serious retinal disease and financial hardship.

Donations made online may be earmarked specifically to the VNRD Program, helping us direct resources where the need is greatest. Donate today: https://mygooddays.org/donate

Please note: As funding becomes available, financial assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to available funding.