Jul 29, 2010 | Donor Stories
Dorian of Kansas City was known for his big smile and bigger heart. “My son loved life, but in a tragic moment his life was cut short and, as a result of that, someone else’s life has now been enhanced,” said Wendy. Thanks to the family’s donation, two cornea recipients received the gift of sight, including an infant who was facing a lifetime of corneal blindness. Remarked Wendy, “In my letter to Dorian’s recipient family, I let them know how he loved children and how fitting that a child received one of his corneas.”
You can read more about Dorian’s gift here.
Jul 29, 2010 | Donor Stories
Dorian, an Eye Bank employee, was always dedicated to helping others.
Dorian of Kansas City was known for his big smile and bigger heart. As a recent high school graduate, Dorian was planning on becoming an EMT so that he could help others. “Dorian liked to help people,” said his mother, Wendy. “I think he also liked the thought that the job would be exciting and there would be an adrenaline rush from it.”
Dorian’s passion for assisting those around him was so strong, he even began working alongside Wendy at Saving Sight as a logistics specialist, helping to facilitate the cornea transplant process.
Unfortunately, Dorian’s dreams were cut short in 2008 when he lost his life in a car accident as he was driving a friend to the hospital. Yet, his mission of helping others carries on. After seeing first-hand the impact eye donation has and knowing of Dorian’s caring spirit, Wendy and her family made the difficult decision to donate Dorian’s eyes, bones and tissue.
“We’re a family that cares for others,” said Wendy. “I’ve taught my children to always consider the needs of others and not to be selfish. As far as considering donation, there were limitations as to what we would donate and as long as those limitations were respected, then we didn’t have a problem.” Dorian’s father, Darryl, agreed, “As painful as it was to lose him, I’m glad that Dorian’s gift was able to help others.”
Thanks to the family’s donation, two cornea recipients received the gift of sight, including an infant who was facing a lifetime of corneal blindness. Remarked Wendy, “In my letter to Dorian’s recipient family, I let them know how he loved children and how fitting that a child received one of his corneas.”
To learn more about becoming an eye donor or to read about the multicultural perspectives of donation, please visit www.donatelife.net.
Jun 13, 2010 | Donor Stories
Jake was known for his talent and his compassion.
Throughout his short life, Jake of Chatham, Ill. was known for his sense of humor and his unwavering loyalty to his friends. According to his mother, Barbara, Jake was always the first person to jump in whenever anyone needed help.
After a car accident claimed the life of her 18-year-old son, Barbara was asked if she would consent to donating Jake’s corneas and skin to help others. In the midst of a devastating tragedy, Jake’s parents made a compassionate decision from their hearts, just as Jake would have, and agreed to donate.
“I thought something good should come from a tragedy,” she said. “We had never talked about organ donation – I mean, you never expect your 18 year old to die – but I knew donation is something he would want.”
Jake had just graduated Williamsville High School with honors before his accident. During his high school career, he was an Illinois State Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. In addition, Jake, a talented bass player, also incorporated his love of the arts into his school activities. He was king of his madrigals group and performed in school musicals, including his favorite role as of Horrors. An active member in the school’s vocal music department, Jake even sang for President Obama in 2009 as part of his school’s vocal jazz choir.
However, Jake’s greatest love was film. Remarked Barbara, “He loved movies and knew more about movie trivia than anyone I’ve ever met.” In fact, Jake had a full academic scholarship to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale to study filmmaking in order to prepare for a career as a director.
While Jake’s dreams were cut short, his kindness for others continues to live on – both through the lives of the hundreds of people he touched in his 18 years and through the eyes of a cornea recipient in California who can now see thanks to Jake’s family’s generous gift.
Jun 9, 2010 | Donor Stories
Cody had a big heart and would do anything for anyone.
A father. A husband. A brother. A son. Cody Dunham is many things to many people. To the recipients of his corneas, his skin and his bones, he is a true hero.
In January 2009, when 30-year-old Cody of Divernon, Ill. lost his life in a car accident, his family was faced with the decision whether or not to donate his tissue to others. Because of Cody’s caring personality and his wish to become a donor, his family chose to change another’s life through the miracle of transplantation.
Said his mother, Bonnie, “Cody had expressed interest in becoming an organ and tissue donor to all of us, even though we didn’t discuss it too much. We knew that’s what he wanted.” His sister, Tara, agreed, “He was kind of gruff, but would do anything for anyone and had a huge heart.”
Throughout his life, Cody was dedicated to taking care of those around him. When he wasn’t spending time with his family and friends, Cody was helping others in his community. Cody volunteered as a fire fighter for the Pawnee Fire Protection District in his twenties and spent time helping area farmers during the planting and harvesting seasons.
Cody was obsessed with NASCAR. The passing of his idol, Dale Earnhardt, hit Cody especially hard. “I remember when Earnhardt passed, I never knew someone could be that upset about a person they didn’t know personally,” remarked Cody’s wife, Scarlett. “Cody was pretty passionate about the things he cared about.” In addition, Cody, an avid sports fan, followed Notre Dame, the Oakland Raiders and the St. Louis Cardinals, as well as loved gambling and playing poker with his friends.
At the time of his passing, Cody worked at Rettberg’s Inc. in Divernon, installing furnaces and air conditioners. “They all loved him there,” said Bonnie. “After he died, the company sent a letter to over 1,000 of their customers, letting them know about Cody since he had worked in their homes. The response was amazing. Many customers wrote back saying they remembered Cody and contributed donations to his son Kasen’s college fund.”
It’s no wonder Cody continues to change lives after he lost his own. According to Bonnie, Cody helped save the eye of one of his recipients. “In her case, she didn’t get her sight back, but because of a hole in her cornea, she would have lost her entire eye. Cody’s cornea healed her eye. It’s like Cody is still alive, and a part of him is with her. I just can’t wait to meet her someday.”
Jun 8, 2010 | Recipient Stories
Elizabeth was able to return to playing
the piano after a cornea transplant restored her sight.
As a gifted piano player, Elizabeth often entertained seniors at a senior housing facility in Neosho, Mo. But as her eyesight began to fail, she faced difficulties playing all the requests. “I would play by ear many of the songs the residents wanted me to play, but if I picked up a music book or hymnal, the notes were too blurry to see.”
According to her eye surgeon, Elizabeth had simply outlived her corneas. For this active 75-year-old, the diagnosis was upsetting. In addition to affecting her piano playing, Elizabeth’s vision loss forced her to give up driving and her artwork as well as inhibited her ability to type and read.
Elizabeth finally underwent a corneal transplant on her left eye in summer 2010, which required donated corneal tissue. Although the cornea detached the day after her initial surgery and required an additional operation soon after, Elizabeth’s recovery was incredibly smooth. More important, it restored her lost vision.
Today, according to Elizabeth, her eye sight is better than it was even when she was young. Her left eye is 20/30, and she can read most print without wearing reading glasses. “My cloudy vision had slowly shrunk my world as I aged, but now my vision is so clear that I can once again read music, draw, sew, write and drive!”
Elizabeth chose to write to her donor family though Saving Sight’s correspondence department to thank them for their generous gift. “I wrote because I was so grateful. I thought that was really great they donated their loved one’s cornea to help someone else. It was very caring of them to do that, and I appreciate it so much.”
Not only is Elizabeth pleased with her restored sight, but so are the seniors who once again are able to enjoy her musical talent.
