VisionGift

09/04/2025

You've got questions, We've got answers. Visit us at www.VisionGift.org

Google, founded on this day in 1998.

09/02/2025

This past week, donor families and donation advocates gathered at a Hillsboro Hops game to celebrate the lives saved through organ, eye and tissue donation. One of the most moving moments was when donor mom Leslie Coefield threw out the first pitch in honor of her son, Brian. A new bench was also dedicated in Brian’s memory. a lasting reminder of the light he continues to shine more than three decades later.

You can see KGW-TV’s story here:

Families gathered at a Hillsboro Hops game to celebrate the lives saved by organ donors, including a young boy remembered by his mom with a pitch.

08/27/2025

VisionGift's mission is to Honor Donors by Advancing Sight for all Humankind, while providing hope and healing to individuals in need of corneal transplants. Our vision that Everyone has a Fundamental Right to See is supported through our education of the public and key partners about the importance of eye donation. Since our founding in 1975, we have helped facilitate thousands of corneal transplants and advancements in ocular research, giving recipients of the gift of vision a renewed sense of hope for their future. At VisionGift, we are committed to honoring the gift of donation and making a difference in the lives of those we serve.

08/22/2025

We've still got tickets available in our special section! Join Cascade Life Alliance, VisionGift, and Solvita for a Night of Heroes and Home Runs at the Hillsboro Hops 'Donor Appreciation' Game! We’re honoring the incredible eye, organ, and tissue donors who make second chances possible. Bring your friends and family for a night of baseball, community, and heartfelt gratitude. Get your tickets now and be part of something truly meaningful. Every cheer counts. Every life matters. Seats are in Section 2 along the first base line. We are trying to fill the whole section with recipients, donor families, and donation staff.

Tickets at: https://www.gofevo.com/event/Donorappreciation2

08/20/2025

As a cornea or KeraNatural recipient, you have the opportunity to write to your donor’s family. We know this can feel overwhelming. How do you put “thank you” into words for such a precious gift? But many donor families find deep comfort in hearing from recipients and knowing their loved one’s donation has made a difference. Visit: https://www.visiongift.org/letter/

08/15/2025

Five rapid-fire questions with VisionGift West's Eligibility Specialist, Ruth Phinney

08/13/2025

“I used to say I had ‘new eyes’ - then I realized it was someone’s gift.”

For years, Matthew struggled with vision loss caused by Fuchs’ dystrophy. Reading, biking, tying flies for trout fishing - all the things he loved became harder, blurrier, frustrating.
Then came two cornea transplants.

“Three days after the first one, I said, ‘This is awesome.’ Everything was so crisp. The forest felt alive again.”

But the moment that truly shifted everything was during his second surgery. “The doctor said, ‘Hand me the tissue.’ I froze. I hadn’t fully realized it was a gift - someone’s actual cornea, given so I could see.”

Now, Matthew rides his bike through the woods near Mt. Hood and soaks in every detail: trees, birds, the sparkle of a river. “If you can’t see, your world gets smaller. These gifts changed my life.”

He hopes to write to his donor families soon. “I just want them to know how grateful I am and how much beauty I see because of their loved one.”

08/08/2025

🐾 It’s International Cat Day! 🐱 Can we purr-suade you to do something pawsitive?

Take a minute to register as an organ, eye, and tissue donor — you just might help someone see their favorite feline again. 💙💚

👉 www.RegisterMe.org

08/06/2025

Flashback to 2022 at this time, when our CEO, Chris Stoeger, not only observed LVG East (Boston) staff process a DMEK graft, but he then had the opportunity to see that tissue transplanted by our Co-Medical Director, Dr. Ula Jurkunas.

These photos from his visit show the processing, the post-processing quality check, and then the care in the OR to transfer the tissue to the surgical field and begin the surgery. None of what took place in the OR could have happened without the generosity of the donor and the hard work to recover, screen, process, and distribute the tissue.

08/05/2025

Amber describes her son Paul as a light in every room he entered. Born with cerebral palsy and other medical challenges, Paul faced more than his fair share of adversity, but he did so with a radiant smile and a playful sense of humor that charmed everyone he met.

“He never let anything hold him back,” Amber said. “Even when he wasn’t feeling well, he smiled. His eyes would light up.”

Whether it was joking with nurses, hooting and clapping at Montana’s Virginia City theater, or riding horses - his favorite- Paul embraced life with joy and courage. His bus drivers, teachers, and friends all remember how one glance at his smile could turn a tough day around.

When Paul passed away earlier this year, Amber honored his wish to be a donor. Though his medical condition limited traditional organ donation, Paul was able to donate his corneas for research - an act that may someday help restore sight to others. His contribution is already part of ongoing studies into gene therapy and corneal cell regeneration, work that could change the future of eye care for thousands.

“To me, he’s a hero,” Amber shared. “Why not give the gift of sight? It’s one of the most amazing gifts you can give.”

Amber continues to celebrate Paul’s legacy through handwritten letters, shared memories, and symbols that remind her he’s still near - like music that plays unexpectedly or white feathers that appear without explanation. Paul’s dog Kaia, who trained herself to calm him during seizures, is now by Amber’s side, offering quiet comfort.

At an upcoming celebration of life in Montana, which was Paul’s “happy place”, his family will gather to honor his memory, share stories, and reflect on his lasting impact.

“Paul taught me unconditional love,” Amber said. “And no obstacle is too great.”

08/01/2025

Don't Rule Yourself Out!

Almost anyone can be an eye donor, regardless of poor vision, diabetes, or cancer. In fact, only under the following conditions can eye donation definitely not occur: HIV or AIDS, Active Hepatitis, Active Syphilis, Rabies, Viral Encephalitis, Leukemia, Active Lymphoma, or Active Meningitis.

https://www.registerme.org/

07/29/2025

Did You Know: Fuchs’ Dystrophy occurs when the cells in the cornea’s inner layer gradually deteriorate without any apparent reason. As more endothelial cells are lost over the years, the endothelium becomes less efficient at pumping water out of the stroma (the middle layers of the cornea). This causes the cornea to swell and distort vision. Eventually, the epithelium also takes on water, resulting in pain and severe visual impairment. Epithelial swelling will also produce tiny blisters on the corneal surface. When these blisters burst, they are extremely painful.