Joe’s Story of Hope: “Sight-saving is life-saving!”

When Valentine’s Day approaches, many people will be giving their sweetheart a card or perhaps some chocolates as they celebrate the love in their life. For Joe Johnson, he will be celebrating the anniversary of his cornea surgery and the generous donor family who gave him the chance to see again. As Joe says, “I’m a faithful person and I say a prayer for my donors. They are always, always in my prayers. So in gratitude I thank God for them, for giving them the wisdom to check that box on their license.”

Several years ago, Joe’s vision in his right eye was getting worse and worse due to Fuchs Dystrophy. As his sight deteriorated, he found himself unable to read even the large “E” at the top of the eye chart in the doctor’s office. Everything seemed like it was always in a blur. Joe relayed how scared he felt as the world literally closed in around him while his vision diminished.

During retirement, Joe was determined to remain active in his service to the community and felt he could use his life experience to help guide students as a substitute teacher. Early on, Joe was able to read the course materials and see the faces of the teenagers in his classroom even if they didn’t always appreciate his humor. “They don’t get my sarcasm and I don’t get theirs, so it works out well”, Joe says with a chuckle. I think they find me as a bit of relief. I’m not there to grade them, I’m just there trying to help them. If they’re having  problems, problems with a lot of different things, I’m able to be the go-between them and the teacher or administration.” While Joe found satisfaction in those classroom faces, over time they were getting harder to see.

“My quality of vision was terrible, and it was getting worse and worse. It was either have the surgery or eventually not be able to see it all.”

And so on Valentine’s Day a few years ago, a generous donor and their family gave Joe the gift Cupid could not – the gift of renewed sight. As Joe says, “It’s just unbelievable! You read about transplants and you see it and you talk about it, but when you actually have it happen to you, you just say, “Wow!”…  It’s just unbelievable that someone decided they’d share their sight (corneas) so that I’d get to see. It’s a wonderful thing. It’s very personal. I can read, I can see colors. My vision seems to be getting better as time goes by, which is a great gift. it’s just overwhelming. Sight-saving is life-saving.”