Patricia Kolberg, Cornea Recipient

From the time she was a little girl, Patricia Kolberg of El Dorado says she fought to see. At age 49, she was diagnosed with Fuch’s Dystrophy, a degenerative disease of the cornea. “When the glare of bright lights would hit my eyes, it would just blind me, I was in agony.” The mental health therapist says, “I struggled to keep working.” The grandmother of five, says her corneal transplants in 2012 were nothing short of miraculous. “When people think of donation, they think of big body parts, like a heart, but just this one small piece changed my life. I get to see my grandchildren grow. The colors of flowers are astounding – and just like my life —they hold more depth and vibrancy than I ever imagined possible. Thanks to the greatest gift from my donors, I see the world in a new way.”