Florida Lions Eye Bank changed its name to Beauty of Sight on September 1, 2023

Donor & Recipient Stories

Meet some people whose lives have been changed by the beauty of restored sight

Emily.

My name is Emily, and in March 2019, I became a corneal transplant recipient. My story starts in January of 2018 when I was a senior in high school. I began having serious problems with my left eye: it was red, swollen, sensitive to light, and incredibly painful. My dad and I went to the emergency room at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, where, after many tests and exams, I was diagnosed with acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare, difficult-to-treat microbial infection. I had to stop going to school because I simply couldn’t keep my eye open. My senior year took a downhill turn. I became anxious, depressed, and unsure of the future. I was trying to decide which college I would attend in the fall, enjoy my last year of high school with my friends, and balance everything I loved to do. Due to the severity of my eye condition, I felt hopeless for the first time in my life.

After months of treatment, including countless eye drops, experimental light therapy at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, and lots of prayers, my doctors managed to cure my infection. It was an incredible relief when my eye wasn’t as painful and red as before. However, my vision was impaired. My doctors explained that although the infection was gone, the scar it had left behind would obstruct my vision unless I received a corneal transplant.

I was cleared for surgery in March 2019, and on March 22nd, my parents drove me to Miami to get my transplant at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute with tissue from Beauty of Sight. I was only 19, and I’ll never forget the crowded waiting room, the kind nurses, and the Nickelback was playing in the operating room. The surgery was successful. I woke up with a patch on my eye and felt a little loopy, but I was so incredibly grateful. Over the next few weeks, my vision gradually returned, and every doctor I saw told me how “beautiful” my graft was. I was able to reach 20/40 vision with correction, a huge improvement from the 20/400 vision I started with.

In August 2019, with my eye returned to perfect health, I was able to go to college in person and have a true dorm experience at the University of Florida. My time at UF was full of joy, spirit, and friendship. I joined a sorority and met so many wonderful girls. I worked at a sleepaway camp in Pennsylvania and a preschool for kids with special needs. I volunteered at local schools and churches. I studied psychology, sociology, and French. I was able to live a full and happy college experience despite my health history or even COVID.

I graduated from UF in May 2022, and that September, I moved to France to teach English. This was something I had dreamed of doing for years. I lived in southern France for eight months, teaching, traveling, and eating lots of delicious food. My time abroad includes some of the best moments of my life thus far, and I am so grateful for all of it.

After returning from France in 2023, I moved to Virginia to be closer to family. I love the seasons here. Virginia has beautiful hiking and great wineries and restaurants. My career is going wonderfully! I'm working with preschool-aged children with autism. Seeing their joy is deeply rewarding. I plan to pursue a master’s degree in social work in the fall of 2024, and I hope to continue working with children with disabilities and their families.

I often think about my donor, who I learned from the eye bank, who was a 25-year-old man. I’m immensely grateful for the gift he and his family gave me when he became a cornea donor. My vision and eye health are better than I have ever hoped! It's still not perfect and not without challenges, but I’ve come so far since my transplant. “Thank you” will never be enough to my donor’s family for restoring my sight.

Nolan Bourgeois

In 2014, Nolan Bourgeois faced a life-altering challenge when he developed a rare and rapidly progressing infection in his right cornea. The infection not only caused severe pain but also led to the loss of vision in that eye. Nolan's corneal specialist, Dr. Guillermo Amescua of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, recognized that a corneal transplant would be necessary—if the eye could be saved.

Nolan endured months of intensive antibiotic and antifungal treatments, all aimed at stabilizing his fragile cornea. Just when hope seemed distant, a breakthrough in research offered a new path forward. Dr. Amescua performed a cutting-edge procedure developed at the University of Miami, known as photodynamic antimicrobial therapy (PDAT). This innovative treatment targets bacterial, fungal, and parasitic (acanthamoeba) infections, and it brought Nolan near-immediate relief, allowing his eye to begin the healing process.

During his difficult journey, Nolan sought connection and understanding by creating a Facebook support group for corneal transplant patients and their caregivers. Today, the Corneal Transplant Support Group has grown to over 5,000 members worldwide. It serves as a vital resource where individuals awaiting, recovering from, or having undergone corneal transplants can find support, share experiences, and learn from one another.

Several years after the initial infection that stole his sight, Nolan's eye was finally healthy enough for transplant surgery. In 2018, he received a corneal transplant at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, with tissue provided by Beauty of Sight. The surgery was a success, with Nolan reporting a significant improvement in his visual acuity and quality of life soon after. He continues to see Dr. Amescua for follow-up care and remains deeply involved with the Corneal Transplant Support Group, offering hope and guidance to others navigating similar challenges.

If you wish to tell your story please send us correspondence to our offices as shown in the Contact Us page or send an email to efcaraza@med.miami.edu. We will not distribute or publish your story without your consent.



Writing to the Recipient of Your Loved One’s Cornea: Helpful Guidelines

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