Lisa Richardson

Position: Board Member

Lisa Richardson is the mother of Kip, who was diagnosed with Coats’ Disease in 2017 at age 5 following a routine eye exam. Since then, Lisa has been a passionate advocate for awareness and education, working closely with the Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Foundation to support families and promote early detection.

In 2021, Lisa founded Notes for Coats’, a music centered fundraiser in her hometown of Nashville. What began as a local event has grown into one of the Foundation’s largest and most impactful annual gatherings, uniting families, advocates, and the music community across Middle Tennessee.

Originally from rural Kentucky, Lisa and her husband, Keith, high school sweethearts, settled in Nashville in 2013 with their three children: Hadley, Lydia, and Kip. Lisa is also a two-time cancer survivor, having overcome rare cancer diagnoses in 2012 and again in 2020. Her health journey deepened her belief in the importance of research, early detection, and accessible medical information, values she now champions through her work.

A lifelong music lover, Lisa thrives in Music City. She enjoys attending concerts, hosting gatherings, and organizing events in both a personal and professional capacity. She is honored to be part of the Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Foundation and remains deeply committed to its mission of awareness, research, and community support.

FAQ

At the Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Foundation, we are often contacted by anxious parents or patients who are seeking information after receiving a diagnosis of Coats’ Disease. The questions below are provided as a resource to assist you as you and your doctor decide the best approach for treatment. These questions do not constitute any form of medical advice or diagnosis. Each patient is unique. An experienced retinal specialist who has examined the patient is the best source of information for diagnosis and treatment. We always recommend getting a second opinion.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor (Download PDF)

  • Ahead of any treatments or procedures, it is important to ask yourself and the doctor the following questions:

    • How do you know that this is Coats’ Disease?

    • Has your doctor treated other patients with Coats’ Disease?

    • Have you sought a second opinion? If not, please consult our Doctor Directory for knowledgeable doctors in your area.

    • What Stage of Coats’ Disease is he/she in?

    • Will his/her vision get worse over time?

    • Will the eye have pain?

    • Will his/her eye start to turn out? Is muscle corrective surgery an option?

    • Are cataracts likely?

    • How likely is glaucoma? (due to retinal detachment)

    • Is there calcification?

    • What is the anticipated disease progression?

    • Is there a thorough vision exam available?

    • Where is the vision affected? (central/peripheral/distance)

    • Does he/she have depth perception? (3D visibility)

    • What about the non-Coats’ eye?

    • To what extent is his/her vision affected?

    • Will we be able to use this as a baseline to measure progress/decline?

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