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.