May 9, 2025 | Donor Stories
Rebecca and Aleigha
Aleigha was the kind of person who always put others first. Sensitive and kind-hearted, she never hesitated to help someone. From a young age, Aleigha was outgoing, funny, and full of life. She loved watching her younger brother’s football games with her mom, laughing and cheering from the sidelines. She grew into a compassionate young woman, and though she once dreamed of becoming an EMT, her path shifted with love and motherhood.
She found joy in the simple things—quiet rides on dirt roads, music playing through the speakers, her daughters giggling in the back seat. Aleigha adored her two young girls, Jazzlyn and Jayde. They were her pride and joy. Moments like those were full of connection, love, and happiness.
When her family learned that Aleigha could become a cornea donor through Saving Sight, they felt both the shock of loss and the comfort of purpose. “Deciding to donate was an honor,” her mom, Rebecca, says. “Knowing that Aleigha selflessly shared a part of herself to brighten a stranger’s life has been a true blessing.” Aleigha’s family found comfort in knowing her legacy would live on as a donor hero. Her mom, Rebecca, shares, “Being a donor family is an honor. Knowing that a loved one can give all they have for strangers and that those strangers are flourishing is a blessing.”
Aleigha and family
Her mother now honors her by sharing her story whenever she can and attending events celebrating the gift of eye, organ, and tissue donation. “It brings us joy to be in contact with her recipients,” she says. “Knowing she’s still here in a way you can cling to mentally and emotionally.” It’s through those connections that Aleigha’s family has found an unexpected comfort. Each thank-you note is a reminder that Aleigha’s light endures, sparking new beginnings in eyes and hearts she’ll never meet.
In the months following Aleigha’s donation, Rebecca found solace and solidarity within the tight-knit donation community. Rebecca enjoys going to donor remembrance events, where she meets fellow donor families who understand grief’s quiet ache and the profound pride that comes with giving life to strangers. “We can be there for each other. Even though we are all strangers in this walk of life, we all have a commonality,” her mom, Rebecca, shares. Thanks to their warmth, she discovered that although every loss is intensely personal, the shared compassion of fellow donor families can turn grief into a celebration of hope and healing.”
“To fellow donor families, she offers this comfort: ‘When uncertainty feels overwhelming, hold on to hope. I envision my daughter’s spark living on in others—illuminating their lives just as it did ours.”
This Mother’s Day, we honor Aleigha, her giving spirit, and the strength of her mother, Rebecca, who continues to share her daughter’s light with the world.
May 8, 2024 | Donor Stories
Chad, a vibrant soul with a zest for life, left a mark on those who knew him. “He was a very happy person,” Linda fondly recalls. “He loved to have fun, joking and wrestling around.”
Tragically, Chad’s journey came to an end in January 2017 due to a car accident. Through her sorrow, Linda found peace in the opportunity to honor Chad’s memory through organ donation. Linda shares, “Chad would do anything he could to help somebody.” Chad’s selflessness manifested in his decision to register as an eye, organ, and tissue donor, a choice that would impact countless lives.
For Linda, Chad’s donation brought awareness and understanding. “I signed my driver’s license every time, knowing it was the right thing to do,” she says. “But I didn’t fully comprehend the extent of donation until Chad’s passing.” Through Midwest Transplant Network, Linda discovered the ripple effect of donation, extending far beyond organs to include tissues, bones, and corneas. “I had no idea that you could donate corneas or tissue,” she said. “It’s been eye-opening to learn how donation can touch so many lives.”
Chad’s legacy of giving continues to shine through an annual wiffleball tournament, a fitting tribute to his cherished childhood memories. Linda shares, “In September 2016, he was here with one of his kids and a couple of the other grandkids, and they were all outside playing wiffleball, and he said to me, ‘Mom, you know that this is my fondest memory growing up.’” Linda began to wonder what she could do to honor Chad and his legacy. “I didn’t want to do like the normal 5K because he didn’t run. I wanted it to be about him and came up with a wiffleball tournament.” What began as a small gathering with about eight teams on one field has blossomed into an annual community-wide event with 24 teams spread across eight fields.
As Linda navigates grief and healing, she finds comfort in connecting with recipients of Chad’s gifts. From an elderly woman regaining mobility to a hiker conquering new heights, each story reaffirms the impact of eye, organ, and tissue donation.
In honoring Chad’s legacy, Linda embraces a message of resilience and hope. “His story is one of triumph and tragedy,” she reflects. “I choose to focus on the positive, carrying forward his spirit of giving with every letter, every conversation, and every act of kindness.” As Linda and her family continue to honor Chad’s memory, they invite others to join them on the journey of donation. “Chad gave 100% of what he could give,” Linda emphasizes. “His legacy lives on in the lives he touched, inspiring us all to embrace the gift of giving.” In commemorating Chad’s spirit of generosity, Linda reminds us that even in moments of loss, love endures, and the legacy of giving transcends time.
Aug 24, 2021 | Donor Stories
In Memory of Becky H., 1973-2021
“Becky was a strong advocate for those in need, especially children. She loved genealogy, German food, and her family and friends,” says Eric.
#LegacyGarden #DonorHero
Jun 17, 2021 | Donor Stories
“My mom was extremely devoted to her family, especially her mother, two kids and five grandchildren. She had just gotten her first granddaughter after four boys and was so proud. She was extremely giving, to the point she’d go without so others had. She was an AMAZING cook, no one could come close to her meals, and she took great pride in that.
She loved shopping, she spent each Saturday wandering the aisles of Walmart. She was also an avid church goer, she attended every Sunday with her family. She had liked gardening in earlier years, and recently was obsessed with watching Wheel of Fortune. She knew the answers even before the contestants did,” shares Hannah.
Hannah says she and her mother had never talked about donation prior to her mother’s passing. “I was very familiar because I work in healthcare, but other than knowing we were each listed on our respective drivers licenses, we had never had a discussion about it.”
A Legacy Lives On
“Her legacy lives on especially in her grandchildren, who are currently learning to do acts of kindness so that her huge heart may live on. Regarding donation, I know her legacy is living in the people she has given new life, vision, and mobility too. Also the people who will benefit from the research she contributed too,” says Hannah.
“I was inspired to share our story, because I want to help others who are in a similar pain, understand that good does come eventually. I would just like people to know how missed she is, but how grateful we are that she was able to give to others.”
Here are two photos Hannah provided of her mother, Melanie; the second is a picture of her with Hannah’s son, her second oldest grandchild. It just shows perfectly what a wonderful Mimi she was.
May 26, 2021 | Donor Stories
In Memory of Jeannette Hendricks, 1980-2021
“We called her Nette and she was an awesome chick. Beloved by her family, and respected by peers. Nette was very intelligent and down to earth. She had a wonderful sense of humor and was very creative. She was always a joy to be around with a ready smile and laugh. She enjoyed going to the Downtown Farmers’ Market with her grandmother, shopping on Amazon, bossing her little brother around and trying new vegan culinary delights. Jeannette was recently the recipient of a corneal transplant in March 2021 and she received the corneal tissue from Saving Sight. She was looking forward to seeing life in a new way.” – Gina Wells, Nette’s Aunt
Feb 26, 2021 | Donor Stories
In memory of Jon Earwood, 1994-2020
“Jon was a kind and genuine man. He always had a smile on his face. He loved being outdoors fishing or riding his motorcycle, singing and playing his guitar, and spending time with his family and friends. He loved his job as a welder helping the farming community. But most of all he loved being a dad to his son Thomas.” – Ashton
