In 1995, as high school freshman, I was diagnosed with cornea disease called Keratoconous. At the time I did not understand the severity of my condition. I was able to function with regular soft contact lenses. My vision was good enough for me to be able to excel as a member of my high school basketball team.
After graduating from high school, and later college, the disease began to take a toll on my eyesight. By 2005, the disease had deformed my right cornea to the point where I was legally blind in my right eye. I was still able to play a little bit of basketball, but I had lost the love of the game because I could no longer see the basket clearly from the three point line.
I began to become depressed at my loss of vision and started overeating and not taking care of my health. Everything climaxed in January of 2007, when in the middle of a presentation at work, my right cornea ruptured and my eye swelled to the point where you could not see the blue color in myeye.
Three months later I received a life changing gift, a cornea transplant. I learned that my cornea transplant came from a young woman, and not a day goes by where I do not thank her and her family for that gift.
Since my transplant I have been blessed and transformed in every aspect of life. After my transplant I began running, swimming and cycling and have lost over 60 pounds.In addition to training daily I have competed in two Ironman's, three marathons and hope to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Trials Marathon. My nurse, who helped me every day during my traumatic experience with soothing eye drops and medication, is now my beautiful wife.
The gift of sight has motivated me to become the best I am capable of becoming in every aspect of life and for that gift I will be forever gratefull.
