Honoring the Gift of Sight

As one family experiences a tremendous loss, another family gains the gift of sight. One service that the Iowa Lions Eye Bank provides to the donor family and recipients is the opportunity to correspond to each other. To protect both the donor family and the recipient, this process is facilitated by staff at the Iowa Lions Eye Bank.

The Angel Charmer. When a loved one dies, every memory becomes a treasure. Our donors set an example of sharing that we want to return to their loved ones. Beginning April 1, 2003, each family will receive an "In remembrance" angel keepsake as a way of expressing the Iowa Lions Eye Bank's sincere appreciation. The Remembrance Album is a collection of photos and stories of the children, spouses, parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends who have died and become eye donors. These expressions of memorable moments are displayed in a keepsake album at the eye bank in Iowa City and also shared at various events attended by staff of the ILEB. The Eye Donor Family Quilt is an artwork that incorporates unique and special individual quilt squares designed and donated by donor families throughout Iowa. Each square is a trubute to the memory of an eye donor, stitched or painted to keep the memory alive. The first quilt was completed in May of 2003. Linda Reed, A Lions Club member, pieced and quilted the quilt. The quilt is displayed at the ILEB in Iowa City and will be exhibited at various district and state Lions' conventions and other events. The Recipes of Love Cookbook has been assembled from the special recipes submitted by family members of our courageous eye donors and also by the recipients of the gift of sight . These cherished recipes may include a certain recipe that a loved one was asked to prepare for every family gathering or simply one of their favorites. Cookbooks may be purchased for $15 plus $3 shipping and handling. Checks should be made payable to the Iowa Lions Eye Bank and mailed to Iowa Lions Eye Bank, 2346 Mormon Trek Blvd, Ste 1500, Iowa City, IA 52246.

Iowa Gift of Life Reception

Left to right: Kathy Barnhart, Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson, Christie Vilsack, Gov. Tom Vilsack, Pat Mason, Garret Locke, Deb O'Meara, Greg Schmidt, Kevin Sealy, Jan Reiter

The 3rd semi-annual Gift of Hope Reception at the State Capitol building in Des Moines

The Iowa Lions Eye Bank staff, including Dr. Sutphin and Dr. Goins, and a huge contingency of Iowa Lions, Lionesses, and Leo's were on hand to assist Governor Thomas J. Vilsack honor the donor families of Iowa on December 13, 2003. Over 1200 Iowans visited the Capitol and shared memories of their loved ones who gave the gift of hope through eye, organ, and tissue donation. As Governor Vilsack said, "this event is always bittersweet and filled with emotion, but it is important to recognize those who made such an important decision, and to support their family members who carried out their final wishes."

The reception, created by Governor Vilsack, honors those families that have made the courageous decision at the time of a loved one's death to donate eyes, organs and/or tissues to help someone in need.

At the second semi-annual reception, in 2001, Mr. Vilsack explained, "My sister, Alice, was a heart transplant recipient several years ago and Christie's brother was an organ donor at the time of his death. At a most difficult time, we know that Iowa's donor families were encouraged by the knowledge that they had fulfilled a loved one's wishes and made an important contribution to the lives of others."

Gift of Hope Reception is sponsored by The Iowa Lions Eye Bank, the American Red Cross Tissue Services, the Iowa Donor Network, and the Iowa Funeral Directors Association.

The Gift of Life Reception will be a semi-annual event while Governor Vilsack is in office. The Vilsack family knows first hand that thousands of people offer the gift of life to strangers through the donation of eyes, skin, bone, and organs at the time of death.

Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson, Iowa Lions Eye Bank Medical Director John Sutphin, MD, and Governor Tom Vilsack at the 2001 reception