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InSights

Donor Family Story: Trieva Silver

Trieva was an amazing person. She was the finest, most kind, most compassionate person I ever knew (I’m 64, and she was 56.) She was loved by all who knew her, and were touched by her amazing smile and personality. She was a great wife and mother, and a great friend to MANY! (I had several women tell me that Trieva was their BEST FRIEND. I know her best friend, and circle of good friends. These women weren’t in this group… Yet, Trieva always managed to make others feel special. She treated them like best friends! She cared about them, and it showed! She was active in her church, and was known as someone you could go to for help, advice, or just a hug. She was an Occupational Therapist, and worked with autistic and learning disabled children…. I met some of the parents of “her children”, the day of her organ donation, at the Honor Walk… They all spoke glowingly of her, saying that she had bonded with their child like no other Therapist had ever done. They all spoke through tears… Trieva was loved, and gave love… for her last days, friends traveled from Florida, Utah, Washington, DC, and from MD, and around North Carolina…

We will be spreading her ashes in a ceremony at the beach in a couple weeks. We expect there to be as many as 50 people attending… One traveling from Denver, Colorado… Trieva was loved, and nearly every day, I run into someone I don’t know, who has a story of something selfless and kind Trieva did for them… And she never spoke, even to me, of these things. Her loving, good deeds, were kept between herself, the individual she was helping, and God. She never sought credit … 

She was an exemplary wife, and mother. She and I were together 35 years, and married for 33 years. I will never marry again. It wouldn’t be fair, because no other woman I’ve ever met, or will meet, would compare well with her. (She would tell you otherwise, but that would just be her, being modest.) 

Finally, she had an amazing sense of humor, was always smiling her fantastic smile, always finding the positive… Loving her friends and family. And she had a great love for God, and Jesus. She was such an amazing woman.

Donor Family Story: Allison Wiltse

My sister loved music and enjoyed sunny beach days-so it is only fitting to sing: “I can see clearly now…the rain is gone…it is going to be a bright sun shiny day.” Johnny Nash.

As her life came to an end after a year long of chemo treatments the sun was shining through by the Miracles In Sight. I was thrilled and proud of my sister Allison Wiltse for making a decision on her drivers’s license to be a donor. So, at the moment of darkness came a blue sky knowing the she will help another human being.

The donation process made me feel so happy that Allison could make a big impact on another person’s life. She always responded and reached out to people in need by giving to various organizations. Allison did this whole heartedly even as she had very little money.

Allison Wiltse worked hard, adored her dogs, and cooking.  She was often building her own recipes and  hosting Sunday night dinners.  Allison spoiled her dogs by buying treats even though she had no income. The dogs were companions to the bitter end of her life by hovering over her as she was in pain from the cancer.

So, Allison can make it now the pain is gone.  Look around nothing but blue sky!  Allison’s donation has made it so somebody else can look around…and it will be a bright sun shiny day because she made the donation to Miracles In Sight.

 

Donor Family Story: Rose (Rosalinda) Perez

Rose passed away on December 5, 2023, at the age of 45. Rose was very vibrant and filled the room with her big smile and laughter. Rose was a loving, trusting, and a giving person who was always ready to give you a big hug.

Rose’s favorite role in life was being a “Boy Mom”. A mother to six wonderful, sweet boys from 4 to 26 years. Rose loved her boys, her life, and her job in the justice system. Rose was devoted to her Catholic faith and lead others to Christ.

Rose was the youngest of six siblings. She had a big family and many friends who loved her and her boys. She invested in people and took the time to know them, love them and pray for them.

She worked hard for many years and was so happy when she purchased her own home a few years ago.

Rose lived life to the fullest and always looked for the good in people.

She is deeply missed by her boys, her mother, siblings and many other friends and family.

Donor Family Story: Barry Shelton

Barry and I were each other’s first loved going back to 7th grade.  God saw fit to finally reunite us about 3 years ago. He told everyone we were a fairytale. Barry had a beautiful heart. He was also a talented artist and musician. I felt loved every day. And I miss him so much.

Caroline’s Story: Sight Restored

Dear Donor Family,

My name is Caroline and I am the 52-year-old recipient of your loved one’s cornea. I am writing to thank you for your family member’s gift of not only my sight, but also the light that carries my hopes and dreams. Without this incredible gift I would not be capable of composing this letter today.

Before my transplant, I had been slowly losing my eyesight for several years. My vision loss was caused by an autoimmune disorder that went undiagnosed for over two decades. I was in a great deal of pain every day and had lost almost all my independence. One day I left the house not realizing I had put my clothes on inside out! I was constantly running into things, I had no depth perception and excruciating photophobia. Trying to see the world was like looking through a shattered piece of glass. I was no longer able to work or travel, cook, or even play or read books with my grandchildren. My heart was just broken when on my 50th birthday the doctors told me there was nothing else they could do for me…they said exactly these words…”Maybe someday in your lifetime.”

Almost two years have passed since that diagnosis and today, because of the gift I received, I was able to see my granddaughter for the first time…I mean really see her. My journey has taken me across the country several times and I am at last able to live on my own and read and write (just a little slower). I can take walks by myself and I can bake a magical chocolate cake!

I am having trouble trying to express my overwhelming gratitude, yet keeping in mind the grief that you must still be experiencing. When my Dad passed, I was completely inconsolable, so I want to share a story (true story) with you in hopes that my message of gratitude will be more clear.

“You call me out upon the waters. Your faithful hand will be my guide.”

I was told before the transplant that I would have to wait for my autoimmune disorder to be in “remission” (for lack of a better word) for at least a year before they would consider me as a candidate. As with all autoimmune disorders “remission” is, for me anyway, just another way to say…have your mind, body and heart all on one page. So I moved 2000 miles…to the Atlantic Ocean. I worked on myself and I waited…I even called my place “The Waiting Place.” As I was there off-season, the beach was completely empty…no tourists, just blue skies and beautiful sunrises and sunsets. I felt “safe” walking on the beach although I could not see…occasionally I would walk through fishing lines or a sandcastle without realizing. And it never failed that when I did venture out I would run into that young couple that would ask me to take their picture and I would have to sadly decline. In December, a little over two months post-transplant, I took a walk on the beach. To be completely honest, at that time I was out of eye pain for the first time in over twenty years, however my sight was still much distorted and I was questioning whether or not I had done the right thing. The doctors had all said it was a high risk and that I could lose the eye if the graft was not successful. On that day in December, with NO ONE within miles of me…I walked upon the following message written in the sand.

“You call me out upon the waters. Your faithful hand will be my guide”

One week later, my vision in the operative eye was 20/40.

THANK YOU ALL for this incredible life gift. Because of your compassion… I am a “walking miracle” and my daughter and grandbabies have their “Baba” back.

Fair Winds and Following Seas,

Caroline

Pandit Ram: A New Life At 72

Currently, there is no waiting list for corneal transplantation in the US. In many countries, corneas are not readily available, so Miracles In Sight strives to educate those around the world about the importance of eye donation.Through education and training provided by Miracles In Sight volunteers, our sister eye bank, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, in India, has given sight to many that once had no hope.

This is one such story.

Photo: ©Tony Cervantes
Photo: ©Tony Cervantes

With his new vision, Pandit has a renewed passion for living. Pandit Ram suffered from smallpox at age 7 affecting his left eye. While playing with a knife at age 9, he was stabbed in the right eye.

His perception of light was there. It was the minimal vision he had in his right eye that has gotten him around since his youth, but it was getting worse.

He had lost all hope until coming to SCEH. Surgery in December of 2010 restored some of his vision. So much so that at age 72 he feels he has a new, second life. Not only has his vision been adequately restored, but so has his social zeal and passion for living.

He is thankful to God Almighty and, of course, Dr. Manisha.

 

 

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