OT: Organ Donations

[Brent]

Hello To All,

Today is the first time in over two months that I have been able to sit 
down at the computer and actually read and write something that I can 
actually see.

I am able to do so due to the generosity and foresight of an individual 
who signed his/her organ donation card and carried it with them. Thanks 
to that person I received a new cornea two weeks ago. Things are healing 
up nicely.

For those who don't know, I am legally blind due to complications from 
an ongoing health issue. I lost the sight of the right eye when I was 
fifteen and at the ripe old age of 60 (this year) I was faced with 
losing the sight of my left eye due to macular degeneration, glaucoma 
and then the failing cornea. MD takes away the central part of your 
vision, glaucoma destroys the peripheral vision and a failing cornea 
leaves one in a permanent white fog.

I was told that a transplant was my only hope and that I could wait up 
to a year and a half before I could get one. Needless to say I was not a 
happy camper facing utter vision loss for such a prolonged time frame. 
It had only been a short while since the cornea's inner lining stopped 
working and I was already useless.

Trust me, this is not a very pleasant experience.

Fortunately , in under two weeks of sitting on the transplant list, I 
got two offers of a new cornea. The first turned out to be unsuitable 
for me and it went to another recipient. I was very glad for that person 
and yet disappointed that it could not be mine. But, just a week later 
another  call came in and this time the cornea was for me.

I am happy to report that so far things ARE looking good! Despite some 
delays in healing ( I am not a very typical person when it comes to 
health matters) and some pressure related issues (glaucoma) the 
treatments are working and my vision is slowly getting better. It will 
never be as good as it was but at least I can function to a certain 
degree and thats all I can hope for.

I am eternally grateful to the donor who gave me such a precious gift. I 
urge each and every member of this group to investigate and join an 
organ donor program in their region so that others can be helped with 
the gift of sight or even life. If yo truly want to leave a legacy that 
means something PLEASE sign and carry your organ donor card. Your name 
will not be known and nobody will write a newspaper article about your 
gift....but the person who regains their sight or gets another chance at 
a full and productive life will remember yo forever.

I will remember and thank the person that enabled me to see the faces of 
my wife and children; the wonderful green but wet summer we are having 
and all the other incredible sights in this world during every waking 
hour of every day I have left.  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you....


Brent Hughes