Guided by Faith to Donate
Danny Rivers’ life has been rooted in his faith, and his faith was tested in 1994 when he was diagnosed with keratoconus during a routine eye doctor visit. He was only 18.
Keratoconus causes the fibers in the cornea – the front part of the eye – to weaken, preventing the cornea from maintaining its shape and causing vision to worsen rapidly. Danny’s doctor recommended corneal transplant surgery, and within a week, surgery was performed on one eye, resulting in near 20/20 vision. A few years later, Danny had surgery on his second eye.
But his story doesn’t end there: In 2003, his father-in-law was facing polycystic kidney disease and was placed on a transplant waiting list. Danny was tested for compatibility, was found to be a perfect match, and the two men underwent surgery just three months later. The surgery was a great success.
Danny says his decision to donate his kidney was easy: His vision had been saved by two donors, and he felt it was his calling to give back through organ donation. Today, Danny remains on the donor list and encourages others to become donors, saying “You never lose in life when you make the choice to give.”