Twylia Clanton enjoyed drinking her morning coffee, playing cards, and reading books. And she never met a stranger. Her daughter, Courtney, says she was “one of a kind.”
“My mama loved to talk,” says Courtney. “She was loved by everyone who knew her. My sister and I spent much of our childhood going with our mom to visit residents in nursing homes, sitting for hours in the living rooms of people she visited, and waiting impatiently in the middle of the grocery store aisle while she talked to someone she just met.”
More than anything, Twylia loved spending time with her grandchildren, Olivia and Luke. She always had a hug ready for her family, and she enjoyed camping trips and evening boat rides.
“Most of all, she taught me to love like Jesus,” says Courtney. “She taught me this through her own example.”
Twylia spent her life loving others. She loved going to church, serving others, and making people laugh. She continued to love and serve others after her passing through corneal donation. The gift of her corneas restored sight for two people.
“My mom chose to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor. She encouraged me from an early age to become a donor as well,” remembers Courtney. “There was no question that helping another human regain their sight would be what she wanted.”
Knowing that her mom’s corneas were used to restore sight to two people brings tremendous comfort to Courtney and her family. Courtney reached out to her mom’s recipients and hopes to meet them one day. “I wanted them to know that we felt so blessed that our mom’s donation was able to help them,” she said. “I wanted them to know that I pray for them and care about them.”
“I want others to know that not only did my mother’s eyes give someone else the gift of sight, but we received the greatest gift of knowing that even in her death, she continued to love others,” Courtney says.“If you can help someone else see a field of bright purple flowers, the twinkling stars that light up the night sky, or the faces of their precious children or grandchildren, how can you not donate?”
Become an organ, eye, and tissue donor by registering at the DMV, using your iPhone’s health app, or visit advancingsight.org.
Restore sight to others by making a gift to Advancing Sight Network. Visit advacingsight.org/give-financially or mail your check to:
Advancing Sight Network
Attn: Development Office
500 Robert Jemison Road
Birmingham, AL 35209