Donors and recipients

Honoring the gift.

We are grateful to hear from donor families and recipients about the impact of their experiences. Please consider sharing your story to help spread awareness about the donation process and the life-changing difference it can make.

Read more about the thoughtful donors and appreciative recipients.

Share your story

Donor Family Story: George Wilson

I want to tell you that my husband, George Wilson, was a wonderful photographer. He had an “eye for it”. I hope his eyes can help in some way for others to see the beauty of the world as he did.

Donor Family Story: Russell Beasley

Saturday, May 7, marks exactly five years since a remarkable young man passed away. Russell Beasley battled a rare genetic illness until his death at just 20 years of age. However, his kindness, selflessness, and desire to help others continues to make an immeasurable difference in people’s lives every day. For those who knew him, […]

Donor Family Story: Jim Hartman

“I just wanted to share about my husband, Jim. He passed away on June 11, 2021 and his eyes were donated through your organization. His heart valves, arteries and skin grafts were also donated. Jim was a wonderful, loving, attentive husband of 42 years.

Donor Family Story: Courtney Whaley

“Here is a little bit about Courtney. Courtney was always striving to be the best and enjoy life to its fullest. She was valedictorian and graduated top of her class in nursing school. She absolutely loved her job as a labor and delivery nurse. She even had to deliver a few babies on her own. […]

Donor Family Story: Herman Washington

“Herman was a husband for 51 years, a father to our daughter Wendy but his blessing from God was that 30 years ago he received a heart transplant here in Austin thru Seton Heart Transplant Program. After receiving the transplant, he donated his heart valves.

Donor Family Story: Sharon

My name is Shannon, I’m the daughter of Sharon. I’m very heartbroken that my mom suddenly passed away, however I’m glad she was able to donate her cornea to you.

Recipient Story: Chris Davis

Hi, My name Chris Davis, I’m a former U.S. Coast Guard swimming Instructor, and in 1991 I was diagnosed with an eye disease called KERATOCONUS, which is the thinning of the Cornea. Upon my initial diagnosis and beyond, My vision was a MESS!  Cars tail lights, especially at night, looked like airplane propellers and the […]

Jerome Wheeler: A Personal Connection

Jerome Wheeler, MIS Surgical Recovery Specialist, has quite a connection to eye donation and corneal transplantation. Jerome’s daily work is recovering corneal tissue needed for transplant.

Karen Martinez: Cornea Recipient And Volunteer

My story began on a June day in 2013.  Probably well before then, but I remember this one day in particular as the day I realized something was really wrong with my right eye.  I glanced to my right to acknowledge a co-worker in my doorway and immediately realized the vision in my right eye […]