HEARTFELT LETTERS AND QUOTES FROM CORNEA RECIPIENTS AND DONOR FAMILIES Lions Eye Bank of Delaware Valley is committed to enhancing a person’s quality of life by restoring or improving vision through corneal transplantation, medical research and education.
This book is dedicated to the selfless donor families who make the gift of sight a reality for so many who would otherwise live in darkness. They are truly heroes who define generosity. May we never forget their altruistic acts of donation.
It is our sincere hope that this collection of heartfelt letters and quotes will serve as a reminder that our mission leaves a legacy of sight for thousands of grateful transplant recipients.
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We want to say thank you to the families who donated their loved ones’ corneas. Because of their generosity, our family and Peyton are very fortunate. PEYTON’S PARENTS, TRACEY AND JIMMY
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Carlie was a young girl people felt privileged to know. Even as a baby, she was caring and sensitive. She always shared her toys with her four sisters and never made a fuss about anything. She always went with the flow. CARLIE’S MOTHER, MARIA
CARLIE, CORNEA DONOR
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Thanks to Adonest’s donated tissue, two people received sightrestoring corneal transplants. Following the surgeries, Lions Eye Bank coordinated the delivery of the recipients’ letters of gratitude to Tamika, Adonest’s mother. ADONEST, CORNEA DONOR
They know that someone died to make this donation possible, and that must be difficult for them. My son would’ve wanted someone else to live the most beautiful life possible. ADONEST’S MOTHER, TAMIKA
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Thanks to Jake’s donated corneal tissue, two individuals received the gift of sight. JAKE, CORNEA DONOR
We all miss Jake a lot…I heard [the recipients’] lives were transformed. It was such an amazing gift.
JAKE’S MOTHER, SHARON. SHARON WROTE LETTERS TO THE RECIPIENTS OF JAKE’S CORNEAL TISSUE.
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Allen was a character bigger than life itself. He was a very honest man. He was a civil rights advocate in the 1960s. He believed in and practiced tolerance. He became a grandpa, which is something that he wanted desperately for many years. His grandson Benny was born 16 months before Allen passed away. ALLEN’S WIFE, LEAH
ALLEN, CORNEA DONOR
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It is just impossible to express our gratitude to someone who would be so thoughtful and willing to help someone in need. It puts us on a path to a new and improved quality of life for our daughter.
SVEA’S FATHER, BRIAN
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TIFFANY, CORNEA DONOR
Tiffany’s life wasn’t just a blessing to her family and the people who received her gift. She left a mark on many. She continues to live through the people she has helped—her family, her friends, her peers and her corneal recipients. TIFFANY’S MOTHER, ALTHEA
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ABOUT US: Lions Eye Bank of Delaware Valley, a nonprofit organization, provides area residents with the highest-quality and safest corneal tissue available. More than 1,000 people have their sight restored through corneal transplantation in the tri-state area each year, and many more benefit from medical research and education made possible by donated eye tissue.
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Since 1957, the Eye Bank has helped coordinate over 43,000 surgeries. Working diligently— 24 hours per day, 365 days per
Join the Lions Eye Bank of Delaware Valley community by liking our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lebdv and following us on Twitter @LionsEyeBankDV.
year—the Eye Bank is committed to making the corneal transplant
Learn more about Lions Eye Bank of
process as easy as possible for all
Delaware Valley by visiting our website
of our recipients.
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at www.lebdv.org.
SEND A NOTE If you would like to write to the recipient of your loved one’s Gift of Sight, please send your letter to the following address:
Lions Eye Bank of Delaware Valley Family Services Coordinator 401 N. 3rd Street, Suite 305 Philadelphia, PA 19123
Due to HIPAA confidentiality laws, please do not include any personal information such as name, telephone number or email address in your correspondence. Thank you for your selfless gift of kindness.
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Join the Lions Eye Bank of Delaware Valley community by liking our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lebdv and following us on Twitter @LionsEyeBankDV.
Lions Eye Bank of Delaware Valley 401 N. 3rd Street, Suite 305 Philadelphia, PA 19123-4104
www.lebdv.org Toll Free Phone Number: 800-743-6667 Local: 215-563-1679 Fax: 215-563-3081