Shortly after Christmas I received the greatest gift of my life.
I am 18 years old and headed to Washington University in St. Louis in the fall. I want to be a physician someday. None of this would be possible without the unselfish donation that I received.
I was diagnosed with keratoconus at the age of 12, a disorder that in my case would eventually lead to blindness. With the best correction, the vision in my right eye would not allow me to distinguish the big E on an eye chart. The vision in my left eye had recently begun to deteriorate as well.
Then I received a new cornea, granting me the gift of sight.
During my freshman year in high school, I was a three-sport athlete.
This is my senior year, and my vision became so weak that I was forced to discontinue all athletics and there was little hope for my future.
I recently went to the ophthalmologist and had my bandages removed. I immediately looked at my mother across the room and exclaimed that I could read the words on her sweatshirt. My parents both had tears in their eyes.
Words cannot express the gratitude I feel in my heart. I can only imagine that the donor’s loved ones have suffered a terrible loss in their lives, but I want them to know that their generosity has given me a new life. I am so sorry that they are in pain, and hope that they can gain some comfort with the knowledge that their gift had such a profound impact on me.
I hope that someday I can “pay it forward” with them in mind.
I wish that I could be communicating these emotions in person so they could see that they come straight from my heart.
I hope that they will someday feel peace in their hearts.
