Due to a condition called endothelial dystrophy, which means swelling of the cornea, I was having a slow deterioration of vision in both my eyes. I struggled with this condition for years, and finally in January 2014, I received a corneal transplant in my left eye.
My transplant surgeon beamed a great big smile on the morning of my surgery; when he saw me he said “We have a beautiful cornea for you!”. It was a beautiful cornea indeed! The transplant was successful, the vision in my left eye is stabilized and no longer deteriorating. My right eye will need a transplant as well, but for now it’s hanging in there.
Thanks to my cornea transplant, I can easily drive, work, and live independently. I’m within a couple of years of retirement and plan to be able to do the things I love: play my piano, quilt, garden, make stained glass art, and teach Christian Yoga.
I’m so very thankful for my cornea donor, and would like to say to all donor families, a big heartfelt thank you from the bottom of my heart for the gift of sight from your loved one. It’s a very precious gift, and I am super blessed to have it. I will never take for granted the wonder of looking into a loved one’s eyes, beholding the beauty of God’s creation, and taking in the world around me. I can’t express how very thankful I am to be able to see as well as I can. I truly believe the eyes are the windows to your soul and I will always treasure this gift of sight.
Courtesy of San Antonio Eye Bank/KeraLink International
