Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

The year was 1963. Jenny O’Connell, then 11, was roused out of bed for her sister’s birthday and realized she couldn’t see. She was suffering from a severe adverse reaction to medication known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome, or SJS. The condition blistered her skin and eyes, causing blindness. At best, she was only vaguely aware when doctors shined a light in her eyes. But the vision impairment didn’t keep her from living. She married and had a son and daughter – three people she had never had the opportunity to see.

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In 1996, Joe Zienowicz suffered from tennis elbow. An avid athlete, he sought help from his doctor, who prescribed an anti-inflammatory drug. The medication nearly killed him. He was struck by Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), an adverse reaction to common medication in which skin peels off in sheets. It also can affect mucus membranes, blistering the mouth and eyes. Joe’s corneas were severely damaged, and he was permanently blinded.

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