Eye Tissue Donor Family and Recipient Meet

Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank (RMLEB) was privileged to witness the emotional moment when a donor family and the recipient of their loved one’s eye tissue met for the first time. To respect the privacy of both families, we are sharing their story using first names only.

Tragedy Turns to Peace

In 2018, Jana (pronounced Jane-a) was 26 years old and in school to become a dental hygienist when she was struck and killed by a hit and run drunk driver. Yet, even in her death, her desire to care for others continued as an eye-tissue donor. Just five days and seven hours after tissue was recovered, Jana’s gift took on a new life: her left cornea was transplanted into Ernest “Ellie” to restore his vision, allowing him to see the world through the eyes of someone who spent her life looking for the good in it.

Jana’s mother, April, and sister, Taelor didn’t know she was a registered eye, organ and tissue donor, but said they weren’t at all surprised to learn it; saying she was a generous person, the kind who would give someone the shirt off her back.

It wasn’t until 2025 that Taelor discovered a forgotten letter from RMLEB while helping her mother move. The letter revealed that Jana’s eye tissue had restored someone’s sight. Inspired, Taelor said she knew she had to write to the recipient and sent the first letter in April; Ellie responded in May, each indicating they would like to be in touch; after signing RMLEB privacy disclosure forms and exchanging contact information, the two finally met in person, in January 2026.

As the families visited, Ellie explained that he developed an eye infection while on a golfing trip in Ireland. Upon returning to Colorado he saw several doctors before getting an appointment with a surgeon at the UCHealth Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center. It was this doctor who told him he would need a cornea transplant, “Of course, I had no clue what that meant. I was just glad to see the infection was gone,” he said.

Over the following year, Ellie had monthly doctor visits, each time to have one of the stitches in his eye removed. He said there was no pain, but at first his vision wasn’t always clear and he often experienced double vision. He had concern that he wouldn’t see as well as anticipated, but the doctors were encouraging. “I do remember about the last visit to get the stitches removed, my vision was really good, I was amazed at how well my vision was at that time.” He later had a cataract removed and still wears contact lenses but said even without the lens the vision in his left eye is almost a perfect 20/20.

Turning to Taelor and April as eyes welled up, Ellie said, “Thanks to the gift that I got from your family, I am thankful my vision is great. I’m extremely grateful.”

Jana, a cornea donor, selflessly donated to help restore sight for others.
 

Meeting Cornea Recipient Brings Peace to Donor’s Family

Finding a “silver lining” in tragedy can offer families a sense of peace. While that brightness is often hard to find in moments of grief, hearing Ellie’s story moved Taelor to call the outcome “beautiful.”

Taelor holds a steadfast belief that everything happens for a reason. “She was a blessing on this earth and a natural giver; my sister would give the clothes off her back,” she recalled of Jana. “Sometimes it even frustrated us—we’d tell her she needed to keep things for herself.”

That selfless spirit made the opportunity for donation feel like a natural extension of her life. “Once we learned she could be an eye tissue donor, it was like, ‘Yeah, you’re a true angel, girl!’” Taelor said. Looking at Ellie, she added, “You’re blessed to be able to see. It’s just so beautiful to me.”

Ellie responded, “I’m so sorry for your family’s loss, but I’ve been blessed because of it. I thank her every day.”

Hearing this April noted, “She didn’t die in vain.”

Commenting again on the letters, Taelor said, “I knew I had to follow up, because I knew it would be beneficial for our family.” For them, the letters represented more than just correspondence; they were a path to peace. Because her sister’s injuries were so severe, the family was unable to see her after the accident. Reaching out through the letters and meeting the recipient of Jana’s cornea provided the closure they needed.

Looking at Ellie, April said, “Even though she isn’t physically here, she lives through you. I’m just so excited to meet you, I don’t even have words—just know, I’m happy for you.” She continued, “It feels good knowing that you were able to benefit from her; that, for me, is all I needed.”

April discussed the anger she held for a long time toward the driver who killed Jana but said after prayer and talking with her pastor she finally let it go. “I feel better, I have to love life now,” she said. “We have a part of her that lives in you; so, he didn’t kill her off all the way; he couldn’t take her away forever, she’s part of you, until you go. I feel good about that, and that’s why I can’t hold onto it.”

Taelor explained, “It’s like the full release after today. It’s beautiful where we are now but it was definitely hard to live through. A lot of good has come of it, including receiving justice for the driver, even if it wasn’t the length of sentence we would have liked.” She added that Jana’s death even helped shape her career, overcoming the anxiety from the experience to become a social worker. Taelor works with people experiencing homelessness who often deal with similar anxiety issues that she experienced.

Ellie asked if the meeting and conversation brought some peace to the family. Taelor responded, “Yes, a lot of peace. It is a special blessing. My sister is living through you and still being a blessing. In my eyes you are family, we are connected.”

April spoke of being an eye, organ and tissue donor and RMLEB’s program to help families communicate. “You don’t really see how amazing things like this can be until you see the results, and how other people are affected; I feel amazing, I feel a closeness to my child.”

In his initial letter, Ellie wrote, “Thanks, Jana, for this great gift and because of you I get to continue to see the world with your generosity.” This experience moved him to register as an eye, organ and tissue donor.

If you are the family of an eye tissue donor or a recipient and would like to share your story, please contact RMLEB at info@corneas.org.