Sep 9, 2026 | Recipient Stories
Carol
For much of her life, Carol never gave much thought to her eyes. She raised four boys, built a long career in sales, and was just settling into the thought of retirement when the world in front of her began to change. What she didn’t know yet was that her sight was slipping away, and that two donors, along with the families who honored their decision to give, would help her get it back.
For years, Carol’s eye doctor told her the same thing: one day, she’d have cataracts. Then one day, the message changed.
“All of a sudden, he didn’t say cataracts,” Carol said. “He said, ‘Oh, my gosh, you’ve got this and that.’ And I was like, okay — I didn’t realize. I didn’t know anything about it, never heard about it.”
The diagnosis was Fuchs’ corneal dystrophy, a progressive condition that clouds the cornea and takes vision over time. It’s hereditary but can skip generations, which is why Carol never knew it ran in her family until her own son was later tested.
She didn’t fully grasp what was at stake until a chance conversation at a party in Dallas. A woman there, who knew nothing of Carol’s situation, started talking about her own mother. “She said her mom was told she needed the transplant, and she said, ‘No, forget it.’ And now at 88, she’s blind. And frustrated.”
For Carol, it was a glimpse of the road she didn’t want to take. “That is scary to think that that could have been the outcome,” said Carol.
Carol’s path led her to Dr. Cavanaugh, a corneal transplant surgeon she came to trust completely. “He does a phenomenal job,” she said. “I just felt like, whoa — God led me to that, really swiftly.”
Her first transplant came in December 2025. The second followed this summer. Going in, she was, in her words, “over the top nervous,” unsure of exactly what would happen. What she found instead was calm.
“It was very comfortable and peaceful,” she said. “I wish I could have seen all this before I had to go through it.”
The hardest part wasn’t the surgery. It was the 48 hours of lying still afterward, following every instruction to the letter. Carol is a self-described rule follower, and it showed. At her follow-up, the first thing her surgeon said was that it looked like she’d followed instructions.
“That made me really happy,” said Carol.
Today, one month out from her second surgery, Carol is still healing. “Right now, everything looks like I’m looking through a screen door,” she remarked. Her vision is coming back gradually, and with two more months of recovery ahead, she knows the clarity is on its way. “I know it’s a process.”
What moves Carol most isn’t the science of what she received. It’s the people behind it. She thinks often about her donors and the families who said yes.
“That was just such an incredibly tough decision,” she said. “I know the family is just grieving like crazy.”
Carol understands that grief in a way few recipients do. Last year, she lost her son. He was 47, and she wasn’t able to donate his organs. That loss changed how she carries this gift.
“After losing my son and receiving this gift,” said Carol, “there’s a different level of joy that comes with it. Everybody takes it for granted. But you don’t really know until you get one or give one.”
It’s part of why Carol chose to write letters to her donors’ families, a chance many recipients never realize they have. For Carol, the exchange gave her something grief alone couldn’t. “It doesn’t take the sting out of death,” she says. “But it just gives you more peace.”
Carol hopes her story does two things at once: encourage others to say yes to donation and reassure donor families of the difference their loved one’s gift makes.
“I’m just so grateful that I had the opportunity to have this experience,” she said. “If it encourages somebody else to do it — hooray. And if it helps a donor’s family to know the success, then that’s really — those are both golden.”
She keeps coming back to one word: gift.
“If you can just stay positive and know it’s a gift, you’re going to be in the right boat,” said Carol. “I’m just so thankful every year that goes by that science gets smarter and is able to help us.”
One decision can change someone’s world. Carol can see again because eye donors, and the families who honored their decision, chose to give. You can make that same choice. To join the organ and tissue donor registry, visit registerme.org.
Feb 17, 2026 | Recipient Stories
Jim during Donate Life Month 2025
For nearly 15 years, Jim has lived with chronic eye disease.
At 39 years old, during a training in Middle Tennessee, his vision suddenly changed. “All of a sudden, my vision got digitized, it was scary,” he recalled.
Within days, he learned his eye pressure was dangerously high. What followed was a long journey of uncontrolled glaucoma, multiple surgeries and mounting complications.
Over the years, Jim underwent 11 eye surgeries, including cataract procedures and the placement of three drainage devices in each eye. For Jim, doctor visits became routine, sometimes monthly, sometimes multiple times in a week often requiring a two-hour drive to see a specialist.
“It just became something I lived with,” Jim said. “Kind of like a thorn in my side for 15 years.”
Eventually, the strain on his eye led to corneal failure. At first, the symptoms were manageable. But over time, his vision grew cloudy and blurry. Light became painful. Driving at night was difficult. In the final month before transplant, the pain intensified and daily tasks became exhausting.
“I was barely seeing out of my left eye,” he said. “That last month was pretty horrible.”
When his physician recommended a cornea transplant, Jim agreed knowing it would likely not be his last due to the complexity of his case. Still, he was ready for relief and the hope of clear sight again.
Three days before surgery, he received the call that a donor cornea had been identified.
The moment carried deep meaning, not only because Jim was about to receive the gift of sight, but because of the work he does every day.
Jim with family
Jim serves as a Family Care Coordinator with Tennessee Donor Services, where he walks alongside families at the time of their loved one’s death, offering the rare and powerful opportunity for organ and tissue donation.
He understands the sacred balance of what he calls “dual advocacy” — caring fully for grieving families while also representing the unseen recipients whose lives hang in the balance.
“In those moments, I’m walking tenderly with a family through profound loss, while holding deep awareness of the recipients whose lives may be forever changed by that moment.”
When he learned a donor had been found for him, his first response was not only gratitude, it was compassion.
“I texted my family and colleagues and said, ‘Please keep the family of my donor in your thoughts. They’re walking through one of the hardest weeks of their lives.”
Cornea transplant surgery is performed while the patient is awake. During the procedure, Jim experienced an unexpected and emotional realization.
“There was this point in surgery,” he shared, pausing, “where I became aware that another person is now part of me.”
That awareness has stayed with him.
Jim after surgery
After surgery, he learned his donor was a 50-year-old woman from Kansas. Though he does not know her story, he thinks often of her family. Having walked with nearly a hundred families in donation conversations, he understands the weight of that decision.
“Pain doesn’t have to be wasted,” Jim said. “Donation becomes one of those ways meaning is found in the most horrific moments.”
Today, just a few months post-transplant, Jim is no longer living with the constant pain that once defined his days.
“I haven’t been in eye pain since the transplant, where I’d had it for years,” he said. “While my vision’s not 100% yet, but it’s not cloudy anymore. It’s life changing.”
His personal experience has deepened the way he approaches families in his professional role.
“Having needed a transplant myself has deepened the way I hold that balance,” he said. “In those moments, I’m mindful that I’m also carrying the voices of people whose lives may be changed by a donor’s gift.”
Jim hopes his story reminds others that donation is deeply human rooted in compassion, legacy and connection between strangers whose lives become forever intertwined.
“It’s absolutely life-changing,” he said. “Because of the selfless act of another person, either someone who registered or a family who said yes, I can work. I can see clearly. I’m not in pain. That matters.” For Jim, donation is no longer only the work he does. It is the gift he carries every single day.
Jun 6, 2025 | Recipient Stories
Sieglinde Vest
For months, Sieglinde had been living with excruciating pain and blurred vision in her right eye. “It got so bad I could hardly see straight out of my other eye,” she recalled. Sieglinde endured six months of deteriorating vision and persistent discomfort, trying various eye drops and treatments that offered no relief. After countless eye drops and appointments, she reached a breaking point just before the holidays. “I told my doctor, ‘You have to do something. I can’t take this pain anymore.” Her optometrist told her, “You need something done right away,” and referred her to Dr. Shachar Tauber, who confirmed she needed a cornea transplant immediately.
During her first appointment with Dr. Tauber, Sieglinde remembers asking, “Do you even have any corneas available?’ I thought I’d have to wait months,” she said. “He said, ‘Oh no, we have one right away.’ That was such a relief.”
Shortly after her first appointment, Sieglinde had her transplant surgery scheduled for Christmas Day. “I saw Dr. Tauber on Christmas Day—Christmas morning,” Sieglinde recalls. “I could hardly see out of my other eye, and he saved everything. I told him, ‘It’s a miracle.’ I mean, who does that? Come in at 6 a.m. on Christmas morning to save someone’s sight?” she said. “He’s forever in my heart.”
While she’s still undergoing treatment and hopes for continued improvement, Sieglinde is already thankful for what she’s gained. “The pain is gone, and I can see better than before. When your whole head feels like it’s floating, and then that pain lifts—well, that’s a miracle.”
Thanks to the generosity of a donor and the dedication of her surgeon, Sieglinde’s pain has subsided, and her vision is steadily improving. “I’m eternally grateful,” she shared. “To the family who gave this gift, I just want to say thank you. It’s wonderful that someone would donate so that someone else could see again. I am a donor, and I will do the same.”
Sieglinde’s story is a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact of eye donation. Through one selfless gift, her pain has lifted, her vision is returning, and her spirit is renewed. “I’ll always be thankful,” she said. “Because of my donor, I get to see the world again.”
Jan 13, 2025 | Recipient Stories
For Ben, life has been full of surprises—some tough, others miraculous. His journey as a triple transplant recipient is a testament to the power of eye, organ, and tissue donation and the generosity of others.
During his years as a high school teacher, cross-country coach, and basketball coach, Ben could tell he was slowing down during his runs. What he thought were knee problems slowing him down turned out to be a far more serious condition. Ben learned he had an enlarged heart, which was managed with medicine for nearly two decades. As time passed, Ben’s heart was getting worse. During a checkup at the University of Kansas Hospital in 2010, doctors told him his heart wouldn’t make it another six months without a transplant. Ben was sent to St. Luke’s Mid-America Heart Institute, and just a few months later, Ben received a life-saving gift: a new heart from a young man named Matthew, who, Ben later learned, was studying to be a teacher. Matthew’s life had been cut short in a tragic car accident, but his gift gave Ben a second chance at life. “It’s impossible to put into words what that gift means,” Ben says. Ben, his wife, and Matthew’s mom have stayed close over the years, becoming good friends.
Almost a decade later, another health challenge surfaced. This time, it was his kidneys. After some tests, Ben’s doctor told him his kidneys were damaged and they weren’t going to last much longer. After nearly three years on the transplant list, a new kidney became available, saving his life once again. Ben reached out and thanked the donor family, the same way he did when we received his heart but never received a response. Then, a few years ago, Ben sent them a bouquet of flowers on Thanksgiving, a small way of saying thank you, and they sent back a picture of his kidney donor, a young man named Mitchell. “I’ve written letters to the donor’s family, hoping they know just how much their loved one’s gift has meant to me,” he shares.
In 2023, Ben’s vision began to fade. It started gradually, with his eyesight slipping in ways he didn’t quite notice at first. Driving at night became harder, and the world around him grew blurry. When his eye doctor referred him to a specialist, Ben learned he needed cataract surgery. That news alone was a lot to process but then came something he didn’t expect: a partial cornea transplant. “It shook me,” Ben admits. “I’d already been through two transplants, but I wasn’t expecting to hear that word again— ‘transplant.’ After the cornea transplant, Ben wrote to his donor’s family, just like he had before, and received a heartfelt letter back. His donor’s name was Becky, and her family’s kindness left a lasting impression on him. “Every transplant is a miracle,” Ben says.
“These gifts change lives—they changed mine.”
For Ben, these gifts aren’t just about him. They’ve given him precious time with his family: his four children and 11 grandchildren. “I think about all the moments I would’ve missed,” he says. “I would’ve been gone easy if that hadn’t happened. I could have been blind in one eye if that hadn’t happened. None of it would’ve been possible without these donors. They didn’t just save me—they gave me more time with my family.”
After retiring from teaching 10 years ago, he joined the Gift of Life program in Kansas City, visiting high schools to share his story and teach students about the importance of eye, organ, and tissue donation. “I tell my story because people need to hear it,” he explains. “Donation doesn’t just affect the recipient. It’s a ripple effect that touches entire families.”
This year, Ben hopes to honor his three donors with three roses in the Rose Bowl Parade’s Donate Life float—a way to celebrate the gifts that have shaped his life. For Ben, it was a meaningful way to celebrate their selflessness and the profound impact their gifts had on him. “It’s not just about me,” Ben says. “Their donations saved my life, gave me back my sight, and allowed me to be here with my family. Honoring them on such a big stage felt like the least I could do.” Ben’s journey reminds us of the extraordinary impact one person can have on another. Every day he wakes up, he carries the legacy of Matthew, Mitchell, and Becky with him. For Ben, life—and sight—is a gift he’ll never take for granted.
Nov 6, 2024 | Recipient Stories
Matt and his family
For Matt, a cornea transplant meant the difference between fading vision and a world brought back into focus. Matt’s journey began unexpectedly after a seemingly minor ear infection ruptured as he slept. As he wiped his pillowcase, discharge from his ruptured eardrum, mixed with dirt beneath his contact, led to a rare fungal infection, causing severe vision impairment.
After initial treatment from his primary ophthalmologist, Matt was referred to Dr. Kenneth Goins at the University of Kansas Health System. “I learned about Saving Sight and a little about what could happen, and we talked about possibly looking for a donor,” Matt said. Tests revealed the fungal infection in his eye was progressing rapidly, and Dr. Goins informed him he’d need a cornea transplant to preserve any hope of sight. “They were concerned I could lose 100% of my eyesight, and I needed a transplant ASAP,” Matt recalled. Despite the challenges, he stayed focused on the possibility of regaining his sight.
Matt’s experience with transplants started years before his cornea surgery when he received a life-saving kidney transplant from a living donor. That experience helped shape his understanding of the power of eye, organ, and tissue donation, but it wasn’t until he faced potential blindness that he fully appreciated how vital even the smallest parts of the body can be.
“I didn’t know how much a single tissue could impact someone’s life until I was faced with losing my sight,” Matt said. “It’s incredible that two people have now given me this chance to live fully.”
For Matt, the cornea transplant stands as a reminder of the selflessness of donors and the profound difference their gifts make. Gratitude filled Matt’s heart as he spoke of the donor who made this possible.
“I am forever grateful,” Matt said. “Someone selflessly gave me the gift of sight, and it’s overwhelming. What did I do to deserve such love and compassion?”
The impact of his donor’s gift goes beyond Matt’s renewed vision—it’s a testament to human kindness and the power of eye, organ, and tissue donation. To those unfamiliar with the impact of donation, Matt has a simple message:
“You might be able to save someone’s life or change their world just by checking that box on your license,” Matt said. “It’s a chance to help someone in a way that goes far beyond what we can understand.”
As he continues to recover and adjust to his new vision, Matt hopes to honor his donor’s legacy by sharing his story and encouraging others to become registered donors.
Jan 18, 2024 | Recipient Stories
Kathy’s journey to restored sight began after her cataract surgery in the fall of 2023. The procedure that she expected would improve her vision did not deliver the results that she was expecting and led to the discovery of underlying vision issues.
“After my cataract surgery, everyone kept asking me, have you seen the bright lights? Have you seen the bright colors? And I was like…no,” Kathy recounted.
After surgery, swelling persisted in her cornea, and her physician, Dr. Ketcherside, explained that she had Fuchs corneal dystrophy. Fuchs dystrophy is a disease that affects the innermost layer of cells in the cornea. Oftentimes, it is not diagnosed until later in life, and many patients require a cornea transplant to restore clear vision. For Kathy, the answer to restored sight would be the gift of cornea donation and transplantation from two eye donors.
Kathy is so grateful for the gift of restored sight from her donors.
While Kathy was anxious about the surgery, Dr. Ketcherside explained the procedure, reassuring her that it was safe and generally successful. With a newfound sense of hope, Kathy received her first partial-thickness corneal transplant on her right eye in October and a second of the same type of transplant on her left eye in November. In a partial-thickness transplant, only a thin layer of cells that have stopped working in the recipient’s cornea are replaced with donor tissue. The result for many patients is a less invasive procedure, and quicker healing time.
When the stitches came out from her first transplant, Kathy experienced a remarkable change while watching television.
“All of a sudden, the black and whites were just brighter on the show we were watching on television,” said Kathy. “The other eye was more like looking through a light sepia color.”
Since receiving her transplants, Kathy has resumed hobbies like quilting and enjoys more daily independence. Before her surgeries, Kathy would rely on her husband, Steve, to read small print and drive. Now, she and Steve are back to some of their favorite time together, watching the night sky.
“My husband and I like to watch meteors,” said Kathy. “I was having trouble pinpointing the smaller stars and planets. After the transplant, we saw a big meteor at the same time, and it was a ‘woah’ moment.”
Kathy is grateful for the gifts of sight that her donors have given to her.
“It’s just been a miracle,” remarked Kathy. “It’s just opened up a whole new world.”
