Industry News
When Every Minute Matters: An Urgent Request, Answered
At 5 p.m. on a Friday, Saving Sight received an urgent request from a physician partner. A patient had suffered a corneal perforation and needed emergency surgery the following morning. The surgeon had secured operating room access—but transplant tissue needed to arrive by 7 a.m.
Nicole Taylor, a member of Saving Sight’s Client Services team, immediately identified suitable tissue and began coordinating an after-hours delivery to the surgery center.
Debora van Klinken Muntz, Cornea Laboratory Technician
Nicole Taylor, Client Services Specialist
Within 30 minutes of receiving the request, the team had a plan in place.
Debora van Klinken Muntz had already left for the day and was grocery shopping when Nicole called. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Debora returned to the lab to carefully prepare and package the tissue while transportation was arranged with an overnight courier.
Within 30 minutes of receiving the request, the team had a plan in place. The tissue arrived at the surgery center in time for the procedure the following morning. The physician later shared that the surgery had gone well and expressed appreciation for Saving Sight’s quick response.
The effort reflected the care and coordination behind every donor gift. By acting quickly and working together, Nicole and Debora helped ensure that donated corneal tissue reached a patient when it was urgently needed—giving the surgeon an opportunity to help preserve the patient’s sight.
Welcome VCC Kelly Rackovan to the Saving Sight Board of Directors
VCC Kelly Rackovan
Multiple District 26
Saving Sight is pleased to welcome VCC Kelly Rackovan, representing Multiple District 26, to our Board of Directors.
VCC Kelly brings a lifelong passion for service, leadership, and community engagement to Saving Sight. Through many years of involvement with Lions Clubs, she has dedicated herself to helping others and strengthening the communities she serves. Her experience in both volunteer leadership and the healthcare field has given her a deep appreciation for the importance of improving lives through compassionate service.
As a new board member, Kelly is excited to expand her understanding of Saving Sight’s programs and the many ways the organization restores sight through cornea donation, vision health initiatives, and innovative services like First Gift and Vital Tears. She is especially looking forward to learning more about KidSight®, having previously volunteered with vision screenings and seen firsthand the impact early detection can have on children and their families.
Outside of her professional and volunteer commitments, Kelly enjoys spending time with her four grandchildren, reading, and exploring creative crafting projects with friends. She values opportunities to connect with others and believes meaningful service begins with strong relationships and a willingness to help.
Please join us in welcoming VCC Kelly Rackovan to the Saving Sight Board of Directors. We are grateful for her dedication to serving others and look forward to the experience and passion she will bring as we continue to change lives by saving sight.
Investing in Vision Across Missouri: Celebrating the Impact of Saving Sight’s Charitable Grants in 2026
Each year, Saving Sight’s Charitable Grants Program helps extend our mission by supporting organizations that improve access to vision care and strengthen eye health services throughout Missouri. Through the generosity of our supporters and the guidance of our Board of Directors, these grants empower our partners to make a meaningful difference in the communities they serve.
The organizations that received charitable grants in 2025 have already demonstrated the tremendous impact these investments can make.
KidSight
KidSight continued expanding its statewide vision screening program, screening more than 56,800 children this year—an increase from nearly 48,700 the previous year. More than 4,700 children were identified as needing additional eye care, with hundreds receiving comprehensive eye exams, eyeglasses, and care coordination through mobile clinics, provider partnerships, and referral networks.
Missouri Lions Eye Mission Foundation
Missouri Lions Eye Mission Foundation used its grant to purchase two new Spot Vision Screeners, expanding its ability to serve communities across the state. The equipment helped Lions districts build their own local mission programs, contributing to multiple independent mission events, dozens of statewide vision missions, and the engagement of more than 300 volunteers.
Mid-South Lions Sight & Hearing Service
Mid-South Lions Sight & Hearing Service used grant funding to provide comprehensive vision care for 15 Missouri patients, with additional Missourians receiving services through the UMKC Cataract-A-Thon.
Show Me Lions Eyeglass Recycling
Show Me Lions Eyeglass Recycling invested in a new lensometer, increasing its capacity to process donated eyeglasses more efficiently. The additional equipment allows more volunteers to work simultaneously, helping prepare more glasses for vision missions around the world.
Together, these organizations continue to expand access to vision care, support volunteers, and improve lives across Missouri and beyond.
At its June 2026 meeting, the Saving Sight Board of Directors approved this year’s charitable grant awards, continuing our commitment to organizations dedicated to preserving and restoring sight.
This year’s grant recipients are:
• KidSight – $28,500
• Missouri Lions Eye Mission Foundation – $16,500
• Mid-South Lions Sight and Hearing Service – $10,000
• Show Me Lions Eyeglass Recycling Program – $5,000
We are proud to partner with these organizations as they continue expanding access to vision care, supporting underserved communities, and changing lives through the gift of sight. We look forward to seeing the impact these grants will make in the coming year.
A Lifetime of Service in Southeast Missouri: 2026 Lion Ambassador of the Year
PCC Ron Campbell and Lion Dr. Teri Page
Saving Sight is proud to name Lion Dr. Teri Page of the Poplar Bluff Lions Club as the 2026 Lion Ambassador of the Year. For nearly two decades, she has brought vision care to one of the most rural corners of Missouri. The award was presented at Saving Sight’s board meeting on June 13 in Kansas City.
Lion Teri joined the club in 2004 on the invitation of another optometrist in town. It continued a pattern at her practice: the doctor she succeeded had also been a Lion. “I believe in the Lions’ mission of serving others,” she said. “As vision and hearing are two of the components that Lions support, it was a great fit for me. At my first meeting, everyone was welcoming, and the group always has a lot of fun.”
She’s a licensed optometrist who owns and operates Pearle Vision in Poplar Bluff, but a full work schedule has never slowed her service. As one of just two optometrists in the club’s Low-Vision Eye Program for Low-Income Residents, she has provided exams and new eyeglasses at a steep discount for roughly 20 years, reaching hundreds of people who might otherwise have gone without. The children stay with her the most. “I especially enjoy seeing the children who benefit from our organization,” she said. “Learning is exponentially harder when a student has a vision deficiency.”
That reach owes a lot to how the club runs its referral system. Poplar Bluff Lions has built strong ties with local schools and other service organizations, which helps direct people in need to the right resources — and Lion Teri has made sure the process moves fast once someone gets there. “Our system for patient approval is efficient, and the turnaround time is often less than a day,” she said. “I keep applications in my office and have on many occasions started the process while the patient is waiting.” Speed matters, she added, because the club tries to get people into glasses as quickly as possible.
When a patient’s vision can’t be corrected with glasses, Lion Teri doesn’t stop there. She works with the club’s vision program coordinator to connect them with advanced care at the Mid-South Sight and Hearing Center in Memphis.
Some of her biggest contributions are the ones easy to miss. At the club’s Annual Chili Day, the fundraiser that pays for free eye exams and frames for low-income residents, Lion Teri collects more than a hundred boxes for to-go orders every year, pulling them from behind local stores. “We have a wonderful Dollar General store that provides unlimited boxes of all sizes. I just have to collect them from out by the dumpster,” she said. “Recently, Home Depot and Menards have been generous with box donations, so I feel like I’ve been robbed of my dumpster-diving event.” The evening before the event, volunteers from the local high school and the Sierra Osage Girls Center, a juvenile detention facility, help the club prepare. “I love being able to interact with the girls from the center,” Lion Teri said. “They enjoy volunteering, and I feel that our positive interaction at the event is both helpful to them and to us.”
On the day itself, Lion Teri is the club’s fastest delivery driver, moving several hundred orders in a three-hour stretch, a pace that’s become a running joke among fellow Lions, who point to her long-time hobby of amateur car racing as the explanation. And without telling most of her fellow members, she quietly donates more than 1,000 individual peanut butter and cracker packs for the meals each year.
She has also been central to the club’s two Missouri Lions Eye Mission Foundation events, held in Poplar Bluff in 2024 and 2026. At each one, she helped screen and examine more than seventy patients and recruited a second optometrist to join her. She brought screening devices from her own office to clear the backlog, including a new auto-refractor that printed eye prescriptions almost instantly.
“Lion Dr. Teri Page has been instrumental in providing critical, life-changing vision services to hundreds of residents of the large, rural population of southeast Missouri,” wrote Lion Wendy Williams, Missouri Lions Past Council Chair, in her nomination. “She is the epitome of the Lions Clubs International motto of ‘We Serve!'”
Lion Teri says the recognition caught her off guard. “I was truly surprised and humbled by the nomination for the Saving Sight Award,” she said. “There are so many Lions out there doing so much good work, and my small part is never enough. Saving Sight has a truly amazing mission and has done so much to aid in the prevention of blindness. I’m proud to be affiliated with them through this award.”
To honor her partnership in service, Saving Sight made a $1,000 donation in Lion Teri’s name to the Animal Welfare Alliance in Poplar Bluff, the nonprofit she chose.
For Lion Teri, the math on service is simple. “Vision outreach through any organization is a 1,000 percent return on your investment of time,” she said. “Knowing that you’ve helped even just one individual is a feeling that cannot be understated, much less helping hundreds. Vision is the most basic of senses for quality of life, maintaining employment, and connecting with others. It’s a truly rewarding feeling every time we help anyone in need.”
Keep an Eye on the Sky: Marko’s Story
On Father’s Day, we celebrate the fathers who shape our lives through their love, guidance, and presence. For Marko’s family, those qualities defined every aspect of who he was.
Marko and wife
“Marko was the calm to my chaos,” his wife shared. “The yin to my yang. He offered perspectives I hadn’t considered and reminded me not to take life too seriously.”
He started the car on cold mornings. He made coffee before anyone asked. He checked in with loved ones just because. He helped friends when they needed support and never hesitated to lend a hand to a stranger. Whether helping someone with luggage, offering a kind word, or making sure those around him felt comfortable, Marko found countless ways to care for others.
His wife remembers his frequent reminders to “keep an eye on the sky” whenever bad weather approached. Looking back, the phrase feels fitting for someone who was always looking out for the people he loved.
That caring nature became even more evident when Marko became a father.
When he and his wife learned they were expecting twins, Marko was present for every appointment, every milestone, and every moment of uncertainty. When their children arrived prematurely and required care in the NICU, he never wavered.
Despite long days spent traveling between home, work, the hospital, and back again, he remained a constant source of strength for his growing family.
“He smiled and supported us all,” his wife recalled.
Fatherhood deepened Marko’s understanding of what mattered most in life. After spending more than 19 years with his employer, he made the courageous decision to leave his job so he could devote more time to the people he loved most.
Marko and daughter
His children became the center of his world.
Each day, “Meteorologist Marko” would provide the family’s weather report before everyone started their day. He filled their home with music, laughter, movie quotes, jokes, and puns. He shared his love of cooking through carefully prepared meals and expressed himself through music, teaching himself to play the harmonica and creating playlists for those he cared about.
Whether caring for animals, spending time with family, or simply making someone smile, Marko approached life with intention and kindness.
His love extended beyond his immediate family. He spoke with his mother nearly every morning, checking in and offering support whenever she needed it. He believed in giving people opportunities and often reminded those around him that sometimes all someone needs is a chance.
Though his life ended far too soon, the impact of his generosity continues today.
On New Year’s Eve, Marko’s final act reflected the way he lived his life: putting others first.
Through eye donation, Marko restored sight to two individuals through cornea transplantation. For his family, that gift carries special meaning. His wife’s own father is a cornea transplant recipient, giving them a unique understanding of the life-changing impact donation can have.
Just as Marko spent his life helping others see the good in difficult situations, caring for those around him, and guiding his family through life’s challenges, his gift of donation now helps two people experience the world through restored sight.
His legacy lives on in the family he cherished, the friends he supported, the kindness he shared, and the gift of vision he provided to others.
Though his loved ones no longer see him beside them each day, they continue to see his influence everywhere in the music he loved, the values he passed on, the children he adored, and the countless memories that remain.
This Father’s Day, Marko is remembered not only as a devoted husband and father, but as a man whose generosity continues to change lives.
His story is a reminder that a father’s love doesn’t end with his lifetime. Through the lives he touched and the sight he restored, Marko’s legacy continues to shine.
More Than a Lifetime: Xander’s Story
Xander never met a stranger. According to his mom, Amber, he had a way of making people laugh no matter what kind of day they were having. A natural jokester from the time he was little, Xander filled every room with humor, energy, and stories that often left people shaking their heads and laughing at the same time.
“Everybody’s memories of him are the same,” Amber said. “He always made you laugh.”
At just 19 years old, Xander had already built a life full of passion, creativity, and big dreams. He had recently begun working alongside his grandfather at the family auto shop, learning the trade and preparing to eventually take over the business one day. While schoolwork was never his favorite thing, Amber said Xander was incredibly bright and entrepreneurial, always thinking about his next big idea.
Outside of mechanics, Xander was deeply artistic. “He was always creative,” Amber said. “He loved art.” He loved drawing and had recently begun teaching himself tattooing. After receiving a tattoo machine for Christmas, he practiced tirelessly, even tattooing himself first before creating pieces for family members, cousins, and his girlfriend.
He also loved spending time with the people closest to him. Some of Amber’s favorite memories are the simple ones, laughing together late into the night, telling stories, and enjoying each other’s company.
One memory stands out above the rest.
A few months before his passing Xander traveled from Missouri to Georgia to visit Amber. During the trip, the two stayed up all night creating a scavenger hunt for his girlfriend. Xander planned to surprise her with a promise ring that had been passed down through the family, and together they worked on clues and rhymes for the special moment.
“We laughed until we cried,” Amber remembered. “We were deliriously tired, but we had so much fun.”
Before he boarded his early morning flight home, Amber tucked a note into his backpack telling him how much she loved the visit and how much fun they had shared together. Later, seeing a video of the moment and the joy on his face during the scavenger hunt became a memory she now holds close to her heart.
Just months later, Amber’s world changed forever when Xander was involved in a fatal crash only a short distance from work.
In the midst of unimaginable grief, Amber knew one thing clearly: Xander would want to help others. Just a few years earlier when he received his driver’s license, Xander made the decision to register as an eye, organ, and tissue donor.
“He would give you the shirt off his back, even if it was the only one he had,” Amber said.
Through donation, Xander was able to save and heal multiple lives through organ, tissue, and cornea donation. His heart, kidneys, liver, corneas, and additional tissues helped others in need, creating a legacy that continues far beyond his 19 years.
For Amber, knowing Xander’s generosity lives on in others has brought comfort during an incredibly painful time.
“It gives another layer of comfort knowing that even though our loved one has passed away, they’re still living on through somebody else,” she said. “Somebody else’s son or daughter, mom or dad, brother or sister is able to continue living.”
Xander’s legacy continues not only through the lives he impacted through donation, but also through the people inspired by his story. Since his passing, several friends and family members have registered as organ, eye, and tissue donors in his honor. Amber and her family are also working to establish a scholarship fund in his memory.
During Donate Life Month, blue and green ribbons wrapped around the trees outside Amber’s home served as a visible reminder of Xander’s lasting impact and the gifts he gave to others.
Though his life was far too short, Amber says Xander lived fully, loved deeply, and left an unforgettable mark on everyone around him. “He did more in 19 years than most people do in a lifetime,” she said.
Meet Our 2026 Lion Ambassador of the Year Nominees!
Each year, Saving Sight is honored to recognize Lions who go above and beyond in their dedication to service and to our shared mission: We change lives by saving sight.
The 2026 Lion Ambassador of the Year nominees represent the very best of Lionism—individuals whose compassion, leadership, and commitment are making a meaningful difference in communities across Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois. Through vision screenings, outreach, and direct service, these nominees are helping ensure more individuals have access to the gift of sight.
We are proud to recognize this year’s outstanding nominees:
PDG Bob Crump – Seymour Lions Club
Nominated by District Governor Paula Rodgers
PDG Bob Crump has made a profound impact in his community through his dedication to children’s vision screening. Traveling from school to school—often in difficult conditions—he has personally screened hundreds of children, ensuring that no child is overlooked.
His passion for KidSight is evident in both his actions and his advocacy. PDG Bob not only identifies potential vision issues early but also follows up to ensure children receive the care they need. His unwavering commitment reflects a deep care for the well-being and future success of every child he serves.
Lion Janice Bonnot – Jefferson City Host Lions Club
Nominated by District Governor Rev. Bill Foglesong
Lion Janice Bonnot exemplifies what it means to live out the mission of saving sight. Through her leadership, the Jefferson City Host Lions Club has become one of the most active KidSight screening groups in the state.
In a single Lions year, her coordination helped facilitate screenings for nearly 5,000 children across schools, daycares, libraries, and community events—resulting in over 500 referrals for follow-up care. Beyond screenings, she has also led efforts to collect and distribute eyeglasses for mission work, extending her impact far beyond her local community.
Lion Dr. Teri Page – Poplar Bluff Lions Club
Nominated by Council Chair Wendy Williams
For nearly two decades, Lion Dr. Teri Page has combined professional expertise with heartfelt service to improve access to vision care in southeast Missouri. As an optometrist and business owner, she plays a critical role in her club’s Low Vision Program, providing discounted exams and glasses to individuals who otherwise could not afford care.
Her contributions extend well beyond clinical care. From supporting major fundraising efforts like the club’s annual Chili Day to volunteering at large-scale eye mission events, Lion Teri’s generosity and hands-on involvement have helped bring life-changing services to hundreds in her community.
PDG Wayne and Lion Susan Cunningham – Chillicothe Lions Club
Nominated by Vice Council Chair Rachel Harper
PDG Wayne and Lion Susan Cunningham have transformed vision screening outreach through their leadership of “Team Chillicothe.” Since 2020, they have helped conduct more than 22,000 vision screenings across hundreds of events, reaching children across multiple districts.
Their dedication is remarkable—not only in scale, but in spirit. Even in the face of personal health challenges, they have continued their work with resilience and determination. By identifying vision issues early and ensuring follow-up care, they are helping shape brighter futures for thousands of children.
Lion Lauralee Taylor – Cape Evening Lions Club
Nominated by District Governor Louise Bibbs
Lion Lauralee Taylor has played a key role in expanding access to vision care through Eye Mission trips across her district. Her leadership and service have helped bring free eyeglasses to individuals who otherwise would not have access to care, restoring sight and independence.
In addition to her hands-on involvement, she serves on the board of the Missouri Lions State Sight Project, further advancing efforts to meet critical vision needs throughout the region.
PID Don Noland – Harvester Lions Club
Nominated by District Governor Al Wansing
Lion Don Noland is a passionate advocate for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Through his involvement in local eye missions and his leadership roles within the Lions, he has been a strong and consistent supporter of organizations serving those with vision needs.
As a past director and district leader, as well as a champion for the Missouri School for the Blind, Lion Don’s enthusiasm and commitment continue to inspire others and strengthen the impact of service across his community.
Each of these nominees reflects the heart of what it means to serve. Their efforts—whether through screening children, providing clinical care, organizing outreach, or championing access—are changing lives every day. We are grateful for their dedication and proud to celebrate their contributions to Saving Sight’s mission.
The 2026 Lion Ambassador of the Year will be announced at the Missouri Lions State Convention banquet on Saturday, April 25.
The Heart of Giving: Jeremy’s Story
Jeremy at the beach
Jeremy was the kind of person who made everyone feel welcome the moment they met him.
He was friendly, warm, and a steady presence in the lives of those who knew him. With his big
red beard, sky blue eyes, and even bigger smile, he had a way of drawing people in. Whether it
was a conversation, a hug, or simply being there when someone needed him, Jeremy made an
impact that lasted far beyond the moment.
To his wife, he was everything.
The two met at work, and over time built a life filled with love, laughter, and the kind of
everyday moments that mean the most. Sitting on the porch, going for drives, trying new food,
camping, or standing at the front of a concert singing and dancing together, those are the
moments she misses most.
“He was my very best friend,” she said. “I miss just talking to him.”
She describes him as someone who never made her feel unloved.
“He was my biggest fan. I always knew he’d be there to catch me when I fell and cheer me on.
To be loved like that… that will always be the greatest gift of my life.”
That love extended to everyone around him.
Jeremy found joy in music, in bringing people together, and in caring for others. He loved
creating playlists, attending concerts and festivals, and hosting gatherings for friends and
family. No matter the setting, he made people feel at home.
Jeremy valued family, honesty, hard work, and integrity. He showed his care for others in the
way he lived each day, always ready to lend a hand, offer support, or bring people together. He
found joy in entertaining, feeding people, and spending time with friends and family.
Today, his legacy continues in the lives he helped shape.
“He raised our children into good, honest, caring people,” his wife said. “Our friends and family
continue to get together regularly to eat, to entertain, to keep doing what he thought was so
important: being together and living.”
Even in loss, that spirit of giving remains.
Although donation wasn’t something they had discussed in depth, Jeremy had always been
someone who gave to others. As his wife reflected on the decision, it felt like a natural
extension of who he was.
Calling All Lions — Nominate Your Ambassador of the Year!
Every year, we have the privilege of celebrating the remarkable Lions and community partners whose service truly embodies our mission: “We change lives by saving sight.” In 2025, we honored Lion Leon Hove as our Lions Ambassador of the Year, a lifelong Lion whose dedication to vision programs, screening initiatives, and international missions inspired all of us. In honor of his service, a $1,000 donation was made in his name to the Missouri Lions Eye Mission Foundation supporting expanded vision care.
Now it’s your turn to help us recognize the next great Lion leader!
Nominations for the 2026 Lions Ambassador of the Year are opening soon. This recognition highlights a Lion or community member — someone whose volunteerism and impact have measurably furthered our mission across Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois over the last year. Nominees should exemplify service above self, live the spirit of the Lions, and inspire others through their work.
A selection committee made up of the Missouri Lions Council Chair, current District Governors, and Saving Sight board members will review nominations. The honoree will be celebrated at the Missouri Lions State Convention and will receive a $1,000 donation in their name to the 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization of their choice.
Who in your club or community has gone above and beyond this year? Keep your nominations ready and let’s continue celebrating Lions who truly make a difference!
From Both Sides of the Gift: Jim’s Story
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.
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