Meet Katie: Celebrating What Makes Her Different

She lost her right eye to retinoblastoma at just 6 months old. At 9, she lost her leg to cancer. As an adult, she faced three more cancers and carries the scars of the surgeries that saved her life.

But she says it was never her leg or her scars that made her feel self-conscious.

It was her eye.

She had worn an artificial eye for as long as she could remember and never wanted anyone to see her without it. She learned to angle her face in photos and endured questions about why she wasn’t blinking, which eye someone should look at, and whether she was winking at them.

Then, in 2024, she developed contracted socket syndrome and her prosthetic would no longer fit or stay in. After reconstructive surgery, months of patching, and eventually wearing a clear conformer, she began doing something she never imagined she could do:

She let people see her without an eye.

And slowly, something shifted.

“I’ve gained more confidence in my self-image than I ever thought possible. I feel better looking in the mirror.”

Then came an even bigger realization: if trying to look “normal” had never actually made her feel normal, why keep trying?

Why not celebrate what makes her different?

So she decided she wanted something fun. Bold. And sparkly. ✨

And that’s where In the Blink gets the incredible privilege of becoming a small part of her story.

We are so excited to fund her new fun eye—not an eye designed to disappear, but one designed to be SEEN. 👁️✨

And a huge thank you to @EYEMKR for bringing that vision to life and creating her new eye. 💛

She hasn’t picked the color yet, but she knows one thing for sure:

It’s going to sparkle. ✨

Welcome to the In the Blink family. We can’t wait to see what you choose—and to watch you continue celebrating every part of what makes you, you. 💛

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