The power of a gift
“We had never lost a loved one suddenly, but one of the ironic, beautiful things that I love about donation isn't just the way that it helps the recipient families. I had no idea what a blessing it would be for us as the donor family. Instead of us learning that this amazing young woman was brain dead and was not coming back—instead of saying goodbye right then in a rush—donation gave us this 30-hour, sacred goodbye,” she said. "I will never forget those hours with Katie.”
Read more about Katie’s impact and her family’s unwavering tribute.
The gratitude of a recipient who can see again and the comfort a donor family feels knowing their loved one’s legacy lives on is the essence of Eye Donation Month.
September’s 19-year-old daughter’s selfless decision to be a donor changed the lives of eight people, including Evelin, one of her cornea recipients.
“Not a day goes by that I don’t think about my donor and give thanks. Now I know I can say THANK YOU KATIE,” Evelin wrote in her correspondence letter to September.
Read more stories showcasing the transformative power of eye donation.
Honoring donors and celebrating recipients
The miraculous gift of sight begins when someone makes the selfless decision to register as an eye, organ and tissue donor. That gift leaves a lasting impact on cornea recipients and the field of vision research worldwide.
In 2023, Eversight provided 13,813 tissues for transplantation, research and education around the world. Watch this video about the lasting impact the gift of donation has on patients and donor families.
Eye Donation Month raises awareness about cornea donation and transplantation, honors selfless donors who gave the gift of sight, celebrates recipients whose lives have been transformed, educates about donation and encourages people to register as donors.
By registering your decision to be an eye, organ and tissue donor, you are helping to save lives and give hope to the more than 100,000 people in the U.S. currently waiting for lifesaving organ transplants. Thousands more are in need of life-changing tissue or corneal transplants to restore health.
One donor can save and heal more than 75 lives. Please join us in celebrating the gift of sight and encouraging others to consider registering as eye, organ and tissue donors.
How you can get involved
We invite everyone to join us in spreading the word about Eye Donation Month and this year’s theme of "We Can See Clearly Now." Here’s how you can get involved:
- Register to become an eye, organ, and tissue donor if you haven’t already. Your decision could change lives.
- Share stories of donation and transplantation on social media using the hashtag #EyeDonationMonth2024.
- Support Eversight and other organizations working to eliminate blindness through eye donation and transplantation.
- Be a champion for eye donation. Read through these frequently asked questions and help educate your community on the power of eye donation.
Looking ahead
