Copy of letter to DONATE LIFE AMERICA re: my story of being a Cornea Recipient

For much of my adult life, I have been battling what I thought to be "teen acne". That was until the morning of October 21,2009. That's when I perforated my Cornea after poking it with my finger knuckle as I scratched an itch on my eyebrow, and my finger slipped.

On October 24th, I was sent to Duke University Medical Center and learned that I in fact had the skin condition, Rosacea. This is called Ocular Rosacea. It was in my eyes as well. And as a result, the Cornea thinned with each flare-up.

On October 29th, I was rushed back to Duke for an emergency Corneal Transplant. The Gluing procedure that was used to wait out the infection didn't work.

Thanks to my Donor, their courageous gift, and his/her family, I was able to regain my sight. At least a tiny bit. It's going to take a great amount of time (about a year or so) for all of my vision to return.

But this married, Stay-At-Home Mom of three children (ages 10 years to 5 years) is forever grateful to the doctors, her Donor, Donor Family and the North Carolina Eye Bank for the gift of sight. Without them and my family's support, I very well could be blind for the rest of my life (or even without an actual eye).

That Cornea Donation saved my Cornea, the eye it's self, and my life as I've come to "know" it.

Please give to others. Be a Donor and give someone the chance at a better, healthier, and happier life.

I myself am an Organ/Tissue/Eye Donor. If you are going to "take", it's always a good thing to also "give".

Melissa, State of Virginia

Looking Up! (Update re: Cornea/Eye Appointment today)

Well, for the first time since my initial Corneal Transplant Surgery, something has finally gone RIGHT!

After looking at the eye and getting a good peek in to the back of it (for the first time), I got the all clear. My rejection REVERSED!!!!

For three tedious and daunting weeks, my Pred-Forte and I once again became closer friends than I care to admit to. Now I'm back down to four times a day on that, my Doxycycline (oral) medicine twice a day, and my lubricant drops as needed (usually no more than three times in a day).

What an improvement in just three weeks! And even better news?....

Even though he couldn't do it this time, being that I am just now getting out of rejection, I'm looking forward to finally getting SOME of the 15 stitches removed at next month's visit. He said that it's chancing it now to start removal. But when he does, it will be between 3 and 5 of them getting cut out.

If you are interested in this topic, please feel free to leave me QUESTIONS HERE in the comments area. I will try my best to answer them or at least find the info and their locations and work it all in to a separate post on the topic of Corneal Transplantation.

With my stitches loosening, it is now making the Cornea round like it should be, not flat like a table top. My peripheral vision is now back, thanks to the Cornea not being so tight against my pupil. The biggest nuisance now is the fact that my upper eyelid "sticks" to my eyeball. When it tries to "peel off", the air that got trapped releases and my eye "pops". It doesn't hurt. Just feels REALLY weird.

But at least now I can look UP! 

It's Test Time For Me Today (Transplanted Problems)

Today is a test of faith, of self-perseverance, self-reflection and of courage. For me anyways.

In the last three weeks, I have been having to fight off rejection from my graft. The doctor had noticed a VERY early stage of it during the last appointment.

If the eye is still trying to give my Cornea the boot, then the BEST-case scenario is that I have to keep up the tedious task of dropping Pred-Forte in my eye several times (again) during the day. From the time I wake, until I go to bed.

WORST-case scenario? Honestly, I really don't think that I am even remotely to that point. But it would be to go and have another Transplant surgery done with a new donated Cornea.

With that all said, I am going to be bringing my "Transplant posts" back to my main blog (here at 'The (Not Always) Happy Homemaker Diary'). The blog for the Transplant Community isn't really getting any hits. So, I figured that this would be the best decision.

Sure, not everyone cares to know about the ins and outs of being a Donor, Donor Family, or a Recipient. But there are also many that do. So, being that my main blog (HERE!) gets the most "action", I will just keep those that are interested and/or following my progress (or lack thereof) updated on this page.

So, please know that I will update with the latest news as soon as I can. My appointment isn't until late this afternoon. Until then....

What are YOU thankful for this holiday season?

This morning, I sat here and it suddenly dawned on me, that in one week, it will be Thanksgiving Day. And it will also mean my kids will have an extra two days off from school to drive me completely and utterly insane.

Of course, this is the holiday where people are thankful. For what they have, who they have in their lives, and so forth.

You know, the usuals. We are all thankful for our jobs (for those that are employed, especially in these very hard economic times), our families (even those pesky inlaws), for our homes and other neccessities in life. And even for the not-so-needed materialistic things that we have.

While I'm extremely grateful for all of the above myself, there is one special thing in particular that I am more grateful and thankful for this holiday season. One thing more than anything else in the above list. Yes, I think honestly even more than my children....

My eyesight.

In a flash (literally) it was gone from my left eye. I could barely see any light through it.

After a failed "gluing" procedure done on my Perforated Cornea, that was "blown out" by a skin infection that went to my eye, and my own clumsiness, I required an emergency Corneal Transplant surgery. Even though my eye was still heavily infected. 

Really, it was a gamble. Either do it, and chance possible failure (rejection) and lose my whole eye. Or just take the eye and get it over with.

There is only one way to retrieve a cornea from another person's eye. That is to remove the cornea from a deceased donor who was gracious enough, and had a kind enough heart to donate their organs and/or their tissues after death.

Within not even a week after surgery, I had my first huge break through. For the first time in about two weeks, I was able to read the first big letter, and a second set of letters on the eye chart. I could see a hand waving their fingers from about two or three feet back. And I was able to discern light from dark. 

Now, I'm able to get the first maybe two or three lines of an eye chart. Believe me, my Periphrial vision and judgement on clearing things on my left side are still problematic. But I deal with it. It's especially hard if I have to wear my protective eye patch. But it's all worth it.

Because, thanks to a fellow human being's final act of love and kindness, I am able to watch with both eyes wide open, my children grow, be happy, and one day have their own children.

God had truly blessed me and my life. He has given me and my family something special this year. And it's a gift that I hope to have until He calls me home to be with Him. He sent me an angel that day. That angel is my Cornea Donor and their family. May the Lord bless them as He has blessed me.