Giving Good Days Newsletter – Winter 2025

A Message from Our President

This has been a challenging year for individuals seeking assistance with retinal treatment—care that is essential to preventing blindness and preserving independence. 

We continue to work closely with our corporate donors to highlight the urgent need for funding and to bring national attention to the financial hardship faced by hundreds of thousands of Americans who cannot afford these life-altering treatments.

Although we were able to support more than 63,000 individuals this year with their retinal treatments, the need was far greater. More than 350,000 people sought help, and countless newly diagnosed patients continue to go without care simply because they cannot afford it. This reality is unacceptable.

We will not stop advocating for you. Your stories, your struggles, and your needs are being heard. This issue has become a key topic of discussion not only with our corporate partners but also with lawmakers in Washington, D.C. Our message is clear: access to vision-saving treatment should not depend on a person’s financial situation.

We remain hopeful that in the coming months we will be able to reopen these critical programs and continue moving toward our vision—a world where no one has to choose between medical care and everyday necessities.

My thoughts and prayers are with you all as you navigate not only the challenges of illness but also the financial burdens that come with seeking necessary treatment. I pray for strength, hope, and relief in the days ahead.

With gratitude,

Clorinda Walley

President, Good Days

Finding Hope for Amina: The Hermes Family’s Journey with SMA

When Amina was just one week old, her parents, Nagib and Becca Hermes, received a call from their pediatrician that would change their lives forever. Their newborn daughter had tested positive for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare and potentially fatal genetic condition that affects muscle strength and movement.

“We just hung up the phone and started bawling,” they recalled.

Their pediatrician immediately connected them with a specialist, and they soon learned that while a treatment option had recently received FDA approval, it came with a staggering price tag of approximately $2.5 million.

“When we heard the number, we were overwhelmed,” said Nagib. “But we knew that whatever it takes… we would figure out some way.”

That’s when the Hermes family was introduced to Good Days. Through its copay and travel assistance programs, Good Days helped cover the cost of Amina’s treatment and made it possible for her to get the therapy at just 24 months old, becoming the youngest person in the country at the time to receive it.

Now five years old, Amina is thriving. She attends weekly physical therapy and travels regularly to see specialists, including an annual out-of-state checkup that is supported by Good Days.

“They still call us every month just to check in,” Becca shared. “It’s like talking to a friend.”

The Hermes family, who serve in a ministry supporting other parents facing rare and genetic diagnoses, say their community provided critical spiritual and emotional support.

“Our community really rallied around us,” said Nagib. “We had been praying for a child for a long time, and so many people were praying along with us.”

“Every opportunity I have to express my gratitude to Good Days, I take it,” added Becca. “They made it possible for us to care for her in ways we never thought possible. She’s thriving today, and Good Days deserves so much credit for that.”

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Key updates: Operational Highlights

We’re proud of our Care Navigators for delivering quick responses to hundreds of thousands of client interactions each year. These highlights showcase the reach and dedication of our team:

📞 Average call hold time: 40 seconds

💬 Average chat response time: 30 seconds

📱 Average text response: under 2 minutes

✉️ Average emails answered: same business day