SightLife cornea recipient rides Rose Bowl Float

On January 1, 2010, SightLife cornea recipient Cristina Margolis rode down Pasadena’s Colorado Boulevard on the Rose Bowl Parade float that celebrates organ and tissue donation. Cristina received her transplant in time to see the face of her newborn daughter.

In May of 2007, Cristina’s right eye was diagnosed with a very rare and serious infection called Acanthamoeba Keratitis. She underwent intense, painful treatment for three months straight, and although the infection was gone, she was left legally blind. It was very difficult for her to adjust from being a normal 25-year-old to a disabled woman with low self esteem because she felt ashamed, embarrassed, and ugly about her disfigured, lifeless eye.

In December of 2008 though, Cristina received the chance to see again by having a very successful cornea transplant. She is now able to see 20/30 — better than she had been able to see before! Cristina got married a few months after her transplant. A few months more and she and her husband learned that they were going to have a baby. Deeply moved, Cristina wrote these words in a letter to the family of her cornea donor:

“Knowing that I will be able to see my baby’s beautiful face when she is born, watch her take her first steps, and witness all of the other milestones mothers are blessed to see brings tears to my eyes. I can’t wait until the day when I get to tell my daughter about the best Christmas gift her mother ever received, and how her mother holds and will always hold a special place in her heart for her donor and her donor’s family. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”