Advancing Sight Network News
Delta Cargo Agent ReceivesLife Changing Corneal Transplant
Advancing Sight Network ships corneal tissue to 49 states and 56 countries so people can receive sight-saving corneal transplants. Delta cargo agent Lorenzo Dent makes sure the eye tissue makes it to the right place. He knows exactly how important it is to the person...
Veteran’s Eyes Opened to The Gift of Eye Donation
During my military career, I had a number of duties including preparing soldiers for deployments. As platoon sergeant and medical specialist, I performed medical and drug screenings.A fellow soldier worked at Advancing Sight, which was then called the Alabama Eye...
Alabama Nonprofit Partners with Huntsville Genetics Company to Cure Blinding Diseases
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — August 2020 — Two Alabama-based organizations are partnering to find cures for common diseases that cause blindness for millions of people worldwide. In an effort to help medical researchers develop new treatments and cures for blinding eye...
Organ Donation Makes Lasting Impact on Young Surgeon
An experience with organ donation during his first year of general surgery rotation made a lasting impression on Dr. Mamoun Pacha. It was 1976, and Dr. Pacha received a phone call from Dr. Johanssen, chief of the Renal Transplant Department at the University of...
Cornea Recipient Begins Friendship with Donor’s Family
Jennifer stood in a hospital room with her brothers, making the difficult decision to take their mother off life support. Her mom had a number of health issues at the time, and Jennifer and her brothers had already given up on the idea of organ donation. “I remember...
Judy Wilson Credits Surgeon and Cornea Donor for Her Sight
Judy Wilson is a woman on the go. Between her two passions, world travel and her family, Judy doesn’t have the time or patience for anything to hold her back. She spent her life making (and achieving) incredible goals, like her dreams of snow skiing with each of her...
Teen Known for Gift Giving Restores Eyesight for Two People
Maggie Caraway was a 15-year-old known for her positive attitude and her giving spirit. “Maggie’s strongest desire was to help others,” says her mom, Kimberly. “Throughout her life she loved giving to others. She gave gifts to teachers and friends for special...
Dave Smith – The Man Who Never Stopped Giving
Dave Smith never did anything halfway. From creating intricate sets for schools and church productions to building a business, Dave put his entire heart into everything he did. It came naturally to him, especially with his wife, Jackie, at his side every step of the...
The Gift of Sight Allows Author to Write His Novel: Howell Bigham’s Story
We caught up with Howell Bigham just a few weeks after he wrote thank you letters to two very special families. As he writes these letters each year, he appreciates doing so without the need for eyeglasses. Howell’s vision problems began in fourth grade. Howell, his...
Back in the Driver’s Seat of Life: Jeffrey Payne’s Story
Jeffrey Payne takes charge of life. As a retired corrections officer, father of four, grandfather of four more and husband to the love of his life, he didn’t have time for failing vision. That’s why he took on his diagnosis of Fuchs’ dystrophy and prognosis of needing...