At Digital Royalty, we believe in the power of social media. When Digital Royalty Founder, Amy Martin lost her iPad on board a US Airways plane, she turned to Twitter to find it and got it back within a few days. We also turn to social media when we’re looking to add to the team. It was Kirsten’s creative approach on YouTube that earned her a spot at Digital Royalty.
Other times, you put a tweet out there, not expecting anything in return from the digital universe. Like when you turn to Twitter to complain about fuzzy vision; which is exactly what dR Founder Amy Martin did. Frustrated not being able to see scores on scoreboards or on TV and not being able to drive without glasses, she wanted to connect with other people going through similar experiences.
With an above average number of responses, it was clear (ha!) Amy wasn’t the only one tweeting with fuzzy vision. The conversation evolved and people began sharing their personal experiences, what they’ve heard about LASIK surgery and what life is like with contacts and glasses. It seemed as if most responders were grouped into two categories: those who had LASIK and those who were considering it but were hesitant. People weren’t sure of cost, recovery time or the process in general. As the conversation continued, a Phoenix-based ophthalmologist, Dr. Jay Schwartz, was listening and chimed in.
Dr. Schwartz and Amy have been Twitter acquaintances for several years since Amy worked with the Phoenix Suns where Dr. Jay is the official team ophthalmologist. With an invitation to come in for a consultation from Dr. Schwartz (along with an endorsement from Grant Hill), she quickly obliged.
A few weeks ago, Amy went in for her consultation. A couple of us from the office went as well so we could document and share her experience with her followers who were part of the original conversation. It seemed to us that most people wanted to witness the experience firsthand through someone else they could relate to.
After sharing photos and tweets real-time during the consultation appointment, Dr. Schwartz came in to talk to Amy about her options and ultimately whether she is eligible for LASIK. We had the chance to show him the conversation that was generated about LASIK. What happened next? Dr. Jay Schwartz sent this tweet:
Of course, Amy’s LASIK story is far from over. She made the decision to have the surgery. The ability to be involved in the sports world, whether reading a scoreboard, running a marathon, or sparring with UFC fighters, without having to constantly worry about her glasses and vision made the decision pretty easy. Her surgery is scheduled for February 11th. After brainstorming a way to bring it to the digital audience live (without the ability to tweet during and after surgery), the idea was proposed to livestream the surgery. After some gentle persuading, Dr. Jay gave us the green light for to show the surgery live on Ustream.
The point here is that social media is about connecting in meaningful ways, engaging one another and telling our stories online – brands, personalities, sports teams, surgeons, or patients. Sometimes those stories, like this one, are about empowering an individual by providing the knowledge and confidence to do something they’ve wanted to do to improve their quality of life.
Follow along now and on February 11th:
RSVP to watch Amy’s surgery live on the Dr. Jay Schwartz Ustream Channel
