News

A collection of recent news, company culture, employee spotlights, and more at Miracles In Sight.

InSights

Gerard Person: A Career Helping Others

The end of March marks Gerard Person’s official retirement from Miracles In Sight as a surgical recovery specialist, having spent 20 years making an immeasurable difference in the lives of others throughout a career that began one night in Raleigh, NC, many years ago.

Gerard was moonlighting as a security guard at Rex Hospital in Raleigh when he met a recovery technician from what was then known as the North Carolina Eye Bank. The technician was called to the hospital to recover donated corneal tissue.

“I asked (the technician) about what he did and what the qualifications were because I was looking for another part-time position,” Gerard explains. The encounter made a strong impression on Gerard, leading him to apply with the eye bank and start the extensive training required to get certified and become a part-time surgical recovery specialist.

He eventually took a full-time position with the organization. He managed the office and supplies while also doing tissue recovery until he began doing recovery full-time.

Although the flexible hours were what initially interested Gerard about the work, helping people has always been a big part of Gerard’s working life. “In my career I looked for jobs that were rewarding… where I could help someone,” he says.

Before eye banking, he worked as a police officer and parole officer for 21 years. He has also taught CPR and first aid classes for several years, a commitment he intends to continue into his retirement.

Over the years, Gerard says he has enjoyed Miracles In Sight as an organization and working with the people. “(Miracles In Sight) is like the first part of that operation to restore someone’s sight… it’s important that we do what we do correctly,” he explains.

However, the greatest satisfaction he gets is when he meets people who have benefitted from eye donation. “It’s rewarding hearing about people who have had corneal transplants who have regained their sight… just knowing that what we’re doing is helping others,” says Gerard. “Even though it’s a tragic situation (for the donors and their families), you’re helping them give back and give sight to someone.”

Gerard is looking forward to spending more time with his wife, Brenda, and their grandchildren.

The community and staff of Miracles In Sight is proud to celebrate Gerard’s career with the organization and wish him all the best for a long and fulfilling retirement. We are grateful for his dedication, professionalism and commitment to helping others.

Mistrust of the Medical Establishment In the Black Community – Mike Tramber

Our very own Mike Tramber shares his story and experiences with mistrust of the medical establishment in a blog for the EBAA. He outlines the deep history of racial injustice, conflicting opinions on his profession, and his drive to continue shaping the medical world into an informed, safe, and unbiased system.

 

Read the full article here

High School Senior Raises $2,500 for Miracles In Sight

 

Justice Sheaffer, a Senior at Mifflin County High School, was able to raise $2,500 by organizing a spaghetti dinner fundraiser to bring awareness for #MiraclesInSight. Honoring her late uncle who donated his corneas in 2004, Sheaffer wanted to dedicate her senior project to something personally impactful.

We’re so grateful for her dedication to “Creating Miracles with Each Bite” and her commitment to raising awareness for cornea donations.

Read the full article here: https://loom.ly/HA09Hgc

November is Eye Donation Month!

Eye Donation Month is held each November to help bring awareness to the importance of eye donation. All month long, Miracles In Sight, (with the help of the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA)) will help generate awareness about the need for eye donation, common misconceptions about the process, and life-changing opportunities that are created when recipients regain their sight through corneal transplants. This year, the theme is “A New View”– this theme celebrates the new perspective on life that corneal transplant recipients experience after having their sight restored, and the change in viewpoint donor families express when the pain of a loved one’s death is at least partially mitigated by the opportunity to share the gift of sight with someone in need of a transplant.

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“Honoring Our Eye Donors” – 2022 MIS Flag Orders

Miracles In Sight is gearing up for Eye Donation Month 2022!

To help us spread awareness about the importance of eye donation and honor our donors, we have created custom MIS outdoor and garden flags for our partners to display. We’re taking orders for these custom flags from now until September 9th, to be distributed in the month of October by our team.

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A salute to Dean Vavra, retiring President and CEO of MIS

Miracles In Sight (MIS) experienced a changing of the guard, so to speak, on June 6, when the CEO, Dean Vavra, began his transition into retirement and Ingrid Schunder became President and CEO of the nonprofit organization.

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