Cornea Recipient Receives "Christmas Miracle"
In 2006, Theresa Popp of Borden, Ind., received what she describes as a Christmas miracle – an emergency cornea transplant that saved her life. Theresa had developed Pseudomonas, a bacterial infection that in extreme cases can be fatal.
Theresa first noticed something was wrong in November, when she began experiencing unusual 
discharge from her eye and an extremely painful sensitivity to light. Due to a history of eye afflictions, Theresa had been regularly seeing an ophthalmologist. Her eye doctor was able to diagnose the Pseudomonas and had her use eye drops to treat the infection. In the days prior to her transplant, Theresa was forced to use antibacterial eye drops every 15 minutes.
Pseudomonas bacteria are very aggressive and can cause corneal ulcers, which can be very damaging and lead to blindness. To determine whether Theresa had these particular bacteria, her doctor took a culture of her corneal cells by numbing her eyes and gently scraping off corneal cells for diagnostic testing.
In Theresa’s case, her pseudomonas was advanced enough that her ophthalmologist believed the bacteria would spread from her eye into her bloodstream, which would be fatal. Theresa was scheduled for emergency surgery to remove her infected cornea, and on December 15, 2006, she received her life-saving cornea transplant.
In the year since her transplant, Theresa’s ophthalmologist has prescribed steroids to ensure the infection does not return. Theresa will remain on the steroids until her doctor determines it is safe to discontinue, but “in my book I’ve made a full recovery,” she said.
Today, Theresa is more grateful than ever for the gift of life her donor has given to her. “I think of all involved as each day is more precious to me than sight, life was at stake with me,” Theresa said. “I have truly been blessed.”
MLERF Program Statistics
As of this current fiscal year (July 1) through January 31, here are our vision program statistics.
Heartland Lions Eye Banks |
|
|---|---|
Total Transplants |
385 |
Amblyopia Prevention |
|
Total Screened |
13,066 |
Total Referred |
799 |
Eye Care Assistance |
|
Total Patients |
16 |
Total Inquiries |
22 |
|
Glaucoma Detection |
|
Total Screened |
664 |
Total Referred |
57 |
Celebrate the Gift of Sight in March
During National Eye Donor Month in March, the Heartland Lions Eye Banks joins with cornea recipients, donor families and local hospitals to celebrate the gift of sight through eye donation.
During March, MLERF and HLEB staff 
members will be attending health fairs and speaking at a variety of community events in order to promote eye, organ and tissue donation. If your Lions club would like to receive a presentation on the work of the Heartland Lions Eye Banks, please contact Annie Kuhl at 1-800-283-1982.
Heartland Lions Eye Banks also hope to encourage others to consider becoming an eye donor by pledging to give the gift of sight. The easiest way to sign up to be an eye donor is through the state of Missouri's donor registry at www.missouriorgandonor.com.
The Missouri state donor registry is a confidential computerized database that stores your wishes regarding donation. At the time of your death, the information is made available to authorized hospital personnel who can then determine if you wished to be an eye, organ or tissue donor. You desire to donate is shared with your family so they can easily make the final decision for you.
Upcoming Events
April 5, 2008 MLERF Board of Directors Meeting at the St. Louis MLERF offices, 10801 Pear Tree Lane, St. Louis, MO 63073. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and all Lions are invited to attend.
Looking for more detailed information on our upcoming amblyopia and glaucoma screenings? Visit our screening calendar online.