BECOME A DONOR

Family in Raymore to Remember Eric Roach and Support Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation through Memorial Softball Tournament on Saturday, September 20th

Sep 16, 2015 | News

Kansas City, Mo. (September 16, 2014) – Eric Roach, an ironworker from Raymore, died on July 25th at age 22 from a work-related injury. Through organ, eye and tissue donation, Eric’s tragedy resulted in hope for others in need of transplant and solace for his family. On Saturday, September 20th at 1:00 p.m. at Raymore’s Recreation Park (1011 S. Madison St., Raymore, MO 64083), Roach’s family will hold a first annual softball tournament in his memory. More than 150 participants are registered, plus many more spouses and spectators are expected to attend. The event is open to the public. The family intends the event to raise awareness
for organ, eye and tissue donation in the Kansas City community.

Upon his death, Roach donated his organs, corneas and several tissues, which saved or improved the lives of dozens of people. Becky Howard, a cousin of Roach, knows the value of donation firsthand. Her daughter was born blind due to congenital glaucoma and other eye problems, but after receiving several corneal transplants and other eye surgeries, her four-year-old daughter can now see. Furthermore, the father of Roach’s sister-in-law Darcy received a life-saving heart transplant this summer. Having experienced the benefits of donation on both sides, both Becky Howard and Darcy Roach are eager to share their story and honor Eric’s memory on September 20th.

Two Kansas City-area nonprofit organizations, Midwest Transplant Network, an organ procurement organization, and Saving Sight, an eye bank, are providing the family with educational and promotional materials to help encourage attendees to join the organ, eye and tissue donor registry.

The need for organ, eye and tissue donation is great. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, more than 123,000 people are currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Last year, according to the Eye Bank Association of America, more than 48,000 corneas were transplanted in the U.S. And more than 1 million tissue transplants are performed each year in the U.S., according to Donate Life America.

To meet the need, Americans are encouraged to sign up for their state’s donor registry. Anyone can register to be a donor, regardless of age, race or medical history. Sign up online at the Donate Life website or at the local Department of Motor Vehicles Office.

About Saving Sight
Saving Sight is a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to change lives by saving sight. Founded in Columbia, Mo. in 1960, the organization introduced eye donation and the gift of sight to Missouri. 

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Saving Sight Volunteers Promote Donor Designation at State Fair

Sep 2, 2015 | News

Connie and Lion Gerry encourage donor designation at the Missouri State Fair.

Saving Sight volunteers teamed up with the Governor’s Organ Donation Advisory Committee and Donate Life Missouri to raise awareness of organ and tissue donation at this year’s Missouri State Fair. Over six days at the State Fair, a total of thirty-eight volunteers talked with potential donors and those already on the registry to promote a supportive culture of the life-saving power of organ donation.

PDG Lion Jene of the Marshall Lions and Lion Gerry of the Forsyth Lions volunteered at the event on behalf of Saving Sight. Past organ recipient Ruthie and Gayle  also represented Saving Sight at the State Fair Donate Life booth.

Approximately 122,000 Americans of all ages are currently awaiting organ transplants in the United States. One organ donor has the ability to save up to 8 lives.

“Organ donation is a selfless gift to help enhance another’s life,” Lion Gerry said. “Volunteering was enriching as I had the opportunity to meet people who had first-hand experience in organ donation. Donor families who came to the booth told of relatives who had become donors and the good feelings they had knowing a precious gift was made so someone else could continue life.”

You can make a difference! Join Missouri’s organ and tissue donor registry today by visiting missouriorgandonor.com.

Cornea Recipient from Branson Can Watch the Shows and Work Again

Cornea Recipient from Branson Can Watch the Shows and Work Again

Apr 6, 2015 | Recipient Stories

For Jamie from Branson, Missouri, cornea transplantation has been a truly life-enhancing experience. Jamie works for Tantone Industries, a nonprofit sheltered workshop that provides meaningful work opportunities to people like Jamie who have developmental disabilities. Additionally, as a resident of Branson, he loves to watch the country and gospel music shows for which the city is so famous. Jamie suffers from keratoconus, though, which could have caused him to go blind in both eyes, losing his ability to work and enjoy the music shows. But thanks to cornea transplantation, he has regained his sight.

“He’s never been able to see very well,” said Dorothy, Jamie’s grandmother, with whom he’s lived for the past 10 years. “About six to seven years ago, Jamie started complaining about his eyesight.” Keratoconus significantly impairs vision for about 1 in 2,000 people, but its cause remains unknown. According to the National Keratoconus Foundation, the disease “is a non-inflammatory eye condition in which the normally round dome-shaped cornea progressively thins, causing a cone-like bulge to develop.” As his eye lost its round shape, Jamie couldn’t get a pair of contacts to fit well on his eye. “Jamie’s mother is a dispensing optician,” said Dorothy. “She tried several different lenses, but he was really not able to use any of them very long.” Eventually, Dorothy took Jamie to an ophthalmologist who recommended a specialty pair, but they were difficult to put in place as well as rather expensive. “It got to the point where he’d only put them in when we went to a show or somewhere he needed to see better,” said Dorothy.

Ultimately, Jamie was referred to Dr. Tauber in Springfield, who suggested cornea transplant surgery. The first surgery took place in May 2013 and went very well. Transplant surgery for keratoconus takes longer to heal than some other cornea surgeries, so the second transplant took place 18 months later after the first was healed. But this too was a success. “Dr. Tauber said Jamie was one of his best patients,” reported Dorothy. “He was really proud of the way Jamie took care of his eyes.”

Jamie’s second transplant is still in the healing process, but his vision is already greatly improved. “I can see everything clearer,” said Jamie. “Dr. Tauber is a really good doctor. I’m happy with the transplants. I’m happy I have good eyes to see. It’s really good not wearing the contacts.” This improvement has been most noticeable at one of Jamie’s favorite pastimes: the Branson music shows. “When we go to the shows, the people know him and speak to him,” said Dorothy. “Normally we ask for a seat in the third or fourth row, but after the first surgery, we sat in the twenty-third row and he could see.”

Once his eyes heal, Jamie hopes to return to work at Tantone Industries. Tantone offers a variety of employment options to more than 40 disabled adults, and Jamie’s favorite occupation is the laundry department. “They have a commercial laundry with two huge washers and two huge dryers,” said Dorothy. “In summertime he’s especially busy because he does laundry for a youth camp, some of the motels, the police department, one of the funeral homes, table cloths for a convention center—he does it all!”

Before he returns to work, Jamie and Dorothy want to thank the families of the heroic people who donated corneas so he could see again. “Jamie is very grateful to his donors,” said Dorothy. “He grasps pretty well where his ‘new eyes’ came from.” The transplant experience has been such a success for Jamie that he and Dorothy also have become big supporters of donation. “It hurts to think about, but if donation can help someone else like Jamie or a child or whoever, it’s a wonderful thing,” said Dorothy. Jamie and Dorothy intend to participate in Saving Sight’s correspondence program so they can write to the donors’ families. “We just appreciate so much that he had these donors, and Jamie would like to express his appreciation to their families,” said Dorothy. “He wouldn’t have his eyesight back if it weren’t for the donors.”

Join Jamie, Dorothy, and the millions of Americans who support eye, organ, and tissue donation by signing up for the donor registry at the Donate Life America website or at your local motor vehicles office.

Celebrate National Eye Donor Month 2015

Feb 23, 2015 | News

Americans will receive approximately 48,000 cornea transplant surgeries this year to preserve or restore their vision. With healthy vision, these people will be able to lead joyful, independent lives. March is National Eye Donor Month, so Saving Sight encourages you to pledge to be a donor through the donor registry and to speak with your family about your decision.

It starts with you. Thanks to the generosity of eye donors, their families and supportive hospital staff, Saving Sight was able to provide donated eye tissue for 2,985 corneal transplants in 2014, an average of 8 people per day. During National Eye Donor Month, Saving Sight honors donors and encourages you to join our mission:

  • Learn more about eye donation on our website.
  • Pledge to be an eye, organ, and tissue donor on the donor registry online or at your local motor vehicles office.
  • Speak with family and friends about your choice to donate.
  • Celebrate National Eye Donor Month on your social media account(s) using NEDM  images we’ve provided.

According to the Eye Bank Association of America, “over 95 percent of all corneal transplant operations successfully restore the corneal recipient’s vision.” So eye donors have an incredible impact on the lives of recipients, often relieving pain and reviving independence. In fact, a recent study coordinated by the EBAA found that corneal transplants in the U.S., by enabling people to resume employment and lead healthy lives, offer a total lifetime net benefit of nearly $6 billion. “The EBAA’s study does a great job of illustrating that eye donors not only give the gift of sight to recipients but they also enhance prosperity in our communities,” said Tony Bavuso, chief executive officer of Saving Sight.

On behalf of the 2,985 people who received the healing gift of sight in 2014, Saving Sight thanks you for your support during National Eye Donor Month. Sign up today donatelife.net. You can join us and the millions of Americans who have pledged to be donors by signing up for your state’s eye, organ, and tissue donor registry today at the Donate Life America website or your local motor vehicles office. Together, we are saving sight.

Second Misko Scholarship Winner Attends EBAA Technician Education Seminar

Second Misko Scholarship Winner Attends EBAA Technician Education Seminar

Feb 19, 2015 | News

 

Kate Higgins from Georgia Eye Bank attended EBAA’s Technician Education
Seminar in February 2015 after winning the Jachin Misko Memorial Scholarship for Technical Advancement in Eye
Banking.

Almost two years ago, Jachin Misko, Regional Director of Clinical Services, passed away. He was a pivotal leader in establishing Saving Sight’s DSAEK cutting lab and procedures, an achievement that improved Saving Sight’s ability to provide eye tissue for many patients. Jachin was also a leader within the Eye Bank Association of America, serving on the Exam Committee, Continuing Education Committee, Medical Review Subcommittee, and Medical Advisory Board. That is why a scholarship, the Jachin Misko Memorial Scholarship for Technical Advancement in Eye Banking, was created in his memory. Saving Sight partnered with Numedis, a manufacturer of corneal preservation media, to offer up to $2,000 to cover the travel, registration, and lodging costs for an eye bank technician from an EBAA-member eye bank to attend the EBAA Technician Education Seminar (TES) in Tampa, Florida. 

This year’s recipient was Kate Higgins, an employee of Georgia Eye Bank (GEB). “I am very honored to have received the Jachin Misko Memorial Scholarship for the Technician Education Seminar and would like to thank Saving Sight and Numedis for this educational and inspiring opportunity,” said Kate. “I am excited to utilize the new skills and information I learned as a Laboratory Technician at GEB. I am sure that this seminar has made me a better and more knowledgeable eye banker, and I fully recommend the Technical Education Seminar.” To read more about Kate’s experience at the seminar, view the February 2015 issue of Insight, the EBAA’s monthly e-newsletter. 

Tony Bavuso, chief executive officer of Saving Sight, said, “I believe this scholarship is a particularly meaningful way to honor Jachin because it represents the impact he had on all of us and on changing lives by saving sight through eye banking.” The scholarship will be offered to a promising eye bank technician for at least the next three EBAA Technician Education Seminars. 

As the anniversary of Jachin’s passing approaches, the staff of Saving Sight remember him for the outstanding contributions he made as a member of our team. If you would like to contribute to the memorial scholarship to help us honor him by supporting future leaders in eye banking, please visit our Giving page where you can designate your gift to the fund. You can also send a check to our headquarters in Kansas City at 10560 N. Ambassador Dr., Suite 210, Kansas City, MO 64153 with a note stating that your gift is intended to support the Jachin Misko Memorial Scholarship for Technical Advancement in Eye Banking. If you have any questions, please call our accounting department at 1-800-753-2265 or send us a message through our Contact Form.

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