Minnesota Lions Eye Bank

Give the Gift of Sight

Donor and Family Recognition Program

The Minnesota Lions Eye Bank invites you to a Donor and Family Recognition Program honoring eye donors. Program will be Sunday, April 28, 1:30 p.m., at the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul. Please click here for additional information.

April is National Donate Life Month

During National Donate Life Month, the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank is working to raise awareness of eye donation. Are you a donor? Tell a friend!

AJ

Eye Donor

Student, musician, beloved son, brother, and fiancé, AJ was diagnosed with alveolar soft part sarcoma, a rare cancer, at age 24. Despite a tremendous fight, he passed away in January 2009. Photo of AJ

Growing up, AJ was familiar with the topics of donation and transplantation. His father, Brian, is a Minnesota Lions club member and a cornea recipient. Because generous cornea donors restored his dad's vision, AJ had made sure that "DONOR" was on his license.

Full story

Brian

Cornea Transplant Recipient

Returning home from his first cornea transplant, Brian could for the first time see well enough to notice handprints all along the hallway wall, where night after night he'd been groping his way to bed. Photo of Brian "I told my wife, 'We have to paint these!'"

Brian's transplants were career-saving, giving him 20/20 vision with contacts, and he started looking for ways to give back. "When you can't see and then suddenly you can, you want to help others."