At KnowTheGlow, Co-Founder Megan Webber and Director of Global Outreach Helene Dameris recently met with Lynn Tarabey, a 25-year-old retinoblastoma survivor from Lebanon whose extraordinary story reflects resilience, leadership, hope and compassion.
Lynn was just two years old when she was diagnosed with unilateral retinoblastoma in her left eye. Her mother first noticed the Glow when Lynn was one, but doctors initially said it was normal. As the Glow became more pronounced and Lynn began covering one eye to see, her mother continued to push for answers until the family finally received the diagnosis. Lynn became the first retinoblastoma case at the Children’s Cancer Center in Lebanon. Her eye was enucleated and her treatment then followed with chemotherapy and radiation. The treatment was successful, but growing up with a prosthetic eye in a society that did not fully understand her condition was challenging, especially during her teenage years when acceptance from classmates was difficult.
Determined to transform these challenges into purpose, Lynn sought a path to make a difference and founded Retinoblastoma Community Lebanon two years ago. In the face of darkness, I found a glow – not a burden, but a purpose. My prosthetic eye is not a sign of what I lost, but a testament to the life I fought for. ”The NGO provides free prosthetic eyes, free psychotherapy services, nutritional support, and a peer community for families to build connections with one another.
As a graphic artist, Lynn has combined her creativity with her advocacy work by designing a lovable plush toy, Lou, a rabbit character with a removable eye that helps children feel understood and supported. Each child receives a Lou of their own, and a new version will launch this September for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. She teaches art healing and has created more than 75 art pieces that tell her story. Lynn also organizes awareness activities in schools, hospitals, and maternity centers and hosts “Bee Brave” gatherings that share the latest research and treatment updates and parent meetings for every patient and survivor . She has represented her story and patient experience at CRABB Canada and represented her community internationally with organizations such as Retinostop France, ensuring that Lebanon is included in the global dialogue regarding retinoblastoma.
During the meeting, Megan emphasized that the Glow can indicate more than twenty different eye conditions, not only retinoblastoma. Lynn immediately recognized how this broader framing could expand awareness in Lebanon. She expressed her commitment to working with KnowTheGlow on co-branded materials and translations for September. Both Megan and Helene were deeply impressed by her compassion, creativity, and determination. Lynn is not only a survivor, she is a leader whose vision ensures that no child or family in Lebanon will face retinoblastoma in isolation.
