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Misty
Some of my favorite sights are sunsets, my beloved dog, the
ocean, and the precious faces of my nieces. In 2005, I thought I
may never see these things again. One August morning I woke up with
severe eye pain. After many doctor visits I found out that I had a
very rare eye infection. My sight was getting worse each day and
eventually the infection left behind a terrible scar on my cornea.
The scar was so thick, it was like looking through heavily frosted
glass.
This eye infection changed my entire life. I was once a
thriving, independent twenty-something year old woman and this eye
infection turned me into anything but that. I was now dependant on
others for everything. Although I still had sight in my right eye,
the lack of vision in my left eye caused many problems. I lost much
of my depth perception and my eye was extremely sensitive to light.
I wore a hat and sunglasses at all times and lived in the dark for
over a year. My once impeccable balance from years of being a
ballerina was suddenly very poor. I took many tumbles and falls and
struggled with the simple everyday tasks that I once took for
granted. The list of things I could no longer do went on and on. I
couldn't drive and I lost a job I enjoyed as well as my confidence.
I felt helpless and was deeply depressed. My faith was under much
stress and my family had to change their lives to take care of me.
My only hope of getting my sight back was a cornea transplant.
Here is the dilemma with that. When I got my drivers license in
high school, I signed the back and became an organ donor. I also
read that I should discuss this with my family. I remember telling
my parents, that if I were to pass away, I would want to live on by
being an organ donor. However, I also told them I did not want to
be a eye and tissue donor.
As you can imagine, I felt very undeserving of a cornea. I felt
selfish and guilty. I couldn't help but think that this is why I
lost my sight, because I wasn't willing to donate the gift of sight
myself. It took many prayers to accept this and feel deserving.
Finally, I promised that if I received a cornea I would try to
encourage others to become organ and tissue donors.
On October 9, 2006, I received a new cornea! A gift that I will
always be thankful for. My sight was restored and my vision was
improving each day. Things started to get back to the way they used
to be, but even better. I was now seeing life through a new
perspective. I knew that because someone cared enough to give me
their cornea that I needed to see life in a whole new light. I do
my best not to take things for granted and try to appreciate all of
the small things. Today, some of the most beautiful things are
those that I never took the time to notice before I lost my sight.
The circle of life is inevitable and organ and tissue donation can
help so many people. Please decide to be an organ and tissue donor
and sign the back of your driver's license.
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