Giving the gift of sight

Congratulations to all the staff of the T16 Palliative Care Unit at VGH for helping provide the gift of sight to British Columbians. Last year 24 patients gave the gift of sight through eye donation; this is the fourth highest number of eye donors in the province of BC!

By screening for eligibility for eye donation, and through presenting patients and families with information so that they may make a choice regarding eye donation, 38 people benefited through corneal and sclera graft transplants.

“We had been registered donors for years but if the nurse had not been brave enough to ask me it never would have occurred to me that he could still help because of all his other issues.
It was a huge honor for me to agree and I hope that someone sees the world through his eyes with the same humor and joy that he did.
It is me who should be saying thank-you. At a difficult time this donation made me smile and I know he would too,” said one donor family member.

The Eye Bank of BC thanks all of the staff who championed on behalf of their patients by approaching the conversation about eye donation. This is a choice which can bring great comfort to both patients and their families.