When we think about the gift of sight through eye donation, we often consider the recipients who open their eyes to a clearer world.
But the impact reaches far beyond one person’s vision, deeply touching both donor families, recipients, their communities and more, creating a legacy of compassion, hope and connection.
This legacy is something Eversight holds dear as we honor those who have given the gift of sight and support all who are touched by it.
Connecting donor families & recipients
Recipients receive a letter from Eversight offering the opportunity to write to their donor family, and donor families are told how their loved one’s gift changed lives.
Donor families are also given the opportunity to write a letter to their loved one’s recipient. Eversight acts as the liaison for all initial donor family and recipient communications.
A sister’s journey to honor a final wish
When Kelly Klamer’s sister, Karen, lost her battle with cancer, Kelly received a call from Eversight’s Donation Support Center (DSC) asking about eye donation for her sister.
Kelly said “yes.”
She then received a letter from Eversight explaining that Karen’s donation would be used to advance promising eye and vision research.
“As my big sister, I was used to her protecting me, but now it was my turn to protect her final wishes. As our time together drew to a close, I realized that organ donation would not be in the cards for Karen. I felt like a failure because I was not able to get that top wish off her list,” Kelly said.
“Then I got the letter in the mail saying where Karen’s donation went, that it was for research and that she has the potential to save thousands of peoples’ eyesight because of what was being learned.”
Celebrating a Legacy of Sight
To honor those who gave the gift of sight, Eversight hosts a Celebration of Legacy and Sight across our service areas every year. At this event, donor families interact with other donor families and transplant recipients, hear personal stories about the impact of donation and see a slideshow honoring their loved ones.
Mark Trieglaff spoke of his wife’s donation at the 2023 Celebration of Legacy and Sight in Illinois.
