Personal Stories

Nancy's Story

Nancy Bommer’s eyesight slowly deteriorated after she was diagnosed with a rare disease called Fuchs’ Dystrophy in her mid-40s. Enjoying the simple things in life we take for granted – like fastening a piece of jewelry, picking out fabrics, reading and quilting – was no longer possible for Nancy. “I had to feel around…driving at night was difficult. I wasn’t blind…I just didn’t have the crispness of detail.”

Eventually the halos got too bright around traffic lights and Nancy was no longer allowed to drive. Reading also became too difficult so Nancy had to resort to listening to books on tapes.

Nancy went in for surgery on her right eye on March 20, 2007. Twenty-four hours later when she removed the bandages, Nancy could barely believe her eyes. Her vision had improved to 20/25 without glasses.

“It was truly a miracle,” exclaimed Nancy. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think my vision would improve that dramatically. It was like I was living in a whole new world.” The following month the same surgery was performed on Nancy’s left eye with similar miraculous results.

Nancy says she can now drive better and quilt better. It is the markings on birds, the colorations of objects and leaves she can now see for the first time again that makes this experience so gratifying and humbling for her. “It is almost without words... what I feel today…as the result of someone’s willingness to give their corneas from their loved ones.”