Beyond the
No tool is more powerful in illustrating the importance of our work than the personal stories of donor families , recipients and surgeons .
Blair Brenner
Blair successfully wore hard contacts for more than 40 years and never thought twice about rinsing the lenses with tap water . This habit , however , resulted in a devastating acanthamoeba keratitis invading her eye in December 2013 . Suddenly , Blair was faced with excruciating pain and significant vision loss . After months of seeing corneal specialists and living with limited sight , Blair finally underwent a life-changing transplant in March 2014 .
Though her recovery was slow , her patience paid off as the residual pain subsided and her eyesight gradually returned . “ Everything was so difficult for me before the transplant ,” said Blair . “ I ’ m a speech pathologist at two different schools in Waukegan , and just getting to and from work was a struggle . Now I have my entire life back , and that ’ s all because I was given the gift of sight .”
Amanda and Doug Rohlf
Growing up in Woodridge , siblings Amanda and Doug Rohlf were inseparable and never tired of each other ’ s company . “ He would do anything for me ,” Amanda recalled . “ It didn ’ t matter if he was having a terrible day himself , he was there .”
Doug ’ s caring nature was reflected in his reputation as a social butterfly , and he held a special place in the hearts of many . When he took his own life in March 2015 at just 20 years old , the impact that Doug had on those around him was more evident than ever . “ Doug ’ s service was standingroom only , and there was a line of people out the door ,” described Amanda .
Now , Amanda takes great pride in knowing her younger brother was able to help others through eye donation . To honor Doug ’ s memory , she participated in the Out of the Darkness Chicagoland Community Walk in September 2015 , which raises money to support mental health . “ My team collected more than $ 1,000 for the walk ,” said Amanda . “ I ’ m excited to be able to give back in memory of Doug and all the great things he did for others .”
Dr . Anjali Tannan
For corneal specialists , gaining proper exposure and education to the field during residency is incredibly valuable . Fortunately for the residents at Rush , they have Dr . Anjali Tannan . Though she is the newest faculty member of the Rush University Department of Ophthalmology , Dr . Tannan has already established herself as a highly involved and compassionate educator . She has even organized tours of Eversight Illinois to give residents a first-hand look at the role the eye bank plays in corneal transplantation .
For Dr . Tannan , being an instructor is a very fulfilling part of her work as a corneal surgeon . “ Teaching helps ensure that you are always learning ,” she said . “ One of the most rewarding things about resident training is watching each physician improve to the point that their confidence grows and they take control of their patients ’ care .”
Dr . Randy Epstein
The work of Eversight Illinois is made possible , in large part , by the passion and commitment of our supporters , including board members , surgeons and volunteers . While it often takes many people to wear these hats , sometimes it takes just one . For Eversight Illinois , that one is Dr . Randy Epstein .
Dr . Epstein has been our partner surgeon since July 1986 . Throughout his years of collaboration , he has performed hundreds of sight-restoring transplants .
“ We are very fortunate to have a local eye bank ,” he said . “ Eversight Illinois has always been very proactive in providing newer types of tissue as transplant procedures have evolved . This has enabled our surgeons to provide their patients with the latest innovations , without having to take ANY risks in the preparation of this delicate tissue .”
Dr . Epstein ’ s work as a surgeon , however , is far from his only connection to Eversight Illinois . He has served on the gala committee , fundraising committee , and is presently Vice-Chair for the Board of Directors .
Spring 2016 | VISION | Page 4