Cornea Donors
The gift of sight comes from the rich humanity of someone who was a father, mother, sister, brother, son, or daughter. See the links below for stories of four such people.
Robert Vernon Shinn, Jr.
Cornea donor
Fondly known as "Skip" to his family, Bob Shinn, a.k.a. "Uncle Skip," worked for the telephone company for 30 years. After retiring in 1993, Bob sold his live-aboard 40' Grand Banks and bought property in Washington to build his retirement home. A creative man with a generous spirit, Bob's love of music and jokes was infectious. Bob would always be the life of the party, playing his guitar and singing songs. During his tenure at the phone company, Bob often volunteered to work holidays so co-workers with children could spend time with their families. Bob believed in working hard and playing hard. In the end, his generous gift of sight proved his love of life and humanity.
Jennifer Rae Evans
Cornea donor
Family was an essential part of Jennifer’s life, whether as a mom, wife, sister, or daughter. She helped others without hesitation, reaching out with endless patience and caring. She could not help but take care of the underdog. Jennifer’s kind spirit drew people to her and left a lasting impression. Her family knew that becoming a donor was what she would want since she had shared that wish with them. Her father, Martin, says that because Jennifer was a tissue and cornea donor, the focus shifted away from her death and now reflects directly on her kind spirit.
Tia Townsend
Cornea donor
“Shy, sweet and yet, full of spunk,” is how David, Tia’s father, describes her. With a sincere love for animals, she had dreams of becoming a veterinarian and was saving to get a poodle one day. On one occasion she was so concerned about the welfare of a frog that when it seemed to be in distress, Tia decided to administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Tia was such a giving person that after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S., she went through her neighborhood collecting cans and clothing to be donated to a local mission. At the age of 11, Tia gave gifts of life and sight to eight people.
Richard Allmer
Cornea donor
Dick, as he preferred to be called, was a junior high school counselor and amateur photographer who gave much of his time and resources to others. “Compassionate,” “patient,” and “kind” are words that best describe him. Not surprisingly, he was an organ donor card holder. Ultimately, he became a cornea donor. One of Dick’s missions as a photographer was to capture the full beauty of a rainbow in that perfect shot. Coincidentally, one appeared after his funeral. “I interpreted that rainbow,” says his wife Doris, “as his way of telling me that he had safely made it home to heaven.” Shortly after his death, Dick was awarded the Red Cross Unsung Heroes Award for his community service work with seniors. The honor was symbolic of the way he lived.