Cornea transplants change my life

It would be eighteen months before Dr Barrett called. Peter and I were heading over to Rottnest Island for the weekend. As I was on a transplant waiting list my doctor had a list of phone numbers to contact me. When we arrived there was a message from my sister.

‘Phone Dr Barrett.’

I couldn’t believe it when he said. ‘Matching tissue is available. Can you be in hospital Monday?’

I told him where we were and asked. ‘Do we need to come home?’

‘Stay and enjoy your weekend but we need you Monday afternoon.’

Oh my God, this was actually going to happen!

I phoned mum and my sister and then Peter did what every supportive boyfriend should do – took me to the bar at the Quokka Arms and ordered alcohol!

We spent the weekend wandering around the island and talking about what this would mean for both of us. We had been going out for a while and this event was going to be a turning point for us. We talked about the surgery and how we would manage my recovery. I phoned my boss to tell him I would not be in for about six weeks and I was sorry for not giving more notice. He knew that I would not have much time when tissue became available but like me had probably thought it would never happen.

Mum was not very happy about the surgery. She was frightened because this was a really big operation and she was worried I might lose the small amount of vision I had. This worried me too but I was in my thirties and my vision had been a problem for so long, and would continue to be for the rest of my life, it was worth trying something different.

My surgery was successful and each time the bandages were removed the doctors were very excited by the results. During my stay in hospital, the counsellors asked me.

‘How do you feel about the surgery being made possible through tissue donation?’

I have been asked this question a lot over the years. My response has always been.

‘I will be forever grateful to the family who during one of the worst experiences of their life made a decision which gave me one of the best experiences in my life.’

I still remember wearing ‘normal’ sunglasses when mum drove me home from hospital and I could read the number plates on the cars in front of us and see all the road signs! We were driving on the Kwinana Freeway and even now I can remember the thrill of that drive home. I had only had one eye done and was not wearing glasses. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like with two new eyes! There were a lot of follow-up appointments and mum drove me to the hospital each time. As we were often in the doctor’s surgery for a few hours we were both interested in the progress of other patients in the waiting room and there was one lady in particular who had her surgery the same day as mine. She was reading books and sewing while she waited. I wasn’t doing anything! I was too scared to put any strain on my eye at all in case I did some damage. I was not surprised when she suffered some setbacks with her recovery and I hoped she would take more care. Mum was very relieved my surgery and recovery had gone so well and Dr Barrett was very happy with my progress. Within months I was back on the waiting list for the next one and waiting for the phone call!

As the weeks went on it was important for me to regain my independence. I was very lucky with great family and friends around me to help during the early days after my surgery. Eventually I was able to do some limited driving and catch buses to work and my appointments. Going back to work was interesting as my job was in the Accounts Department and often I would put on my old glasses to manage some of the fine work I needed to look at. It meant I was out of focus a lot because my new eye did not need the glasses but the other one did!

One day, while on my way to see Dr Barrett for a check up, the woman who sat next to me on the bus told me about her daughter whom she was going to visit in hospital. Her daughter was having a cornea transplant the next day and they both were feeling a bit scared. She mentioned that Dr Barrett was her daughter’s eye specialist. I told her my story and how good Dr Barrett was and how well he looked after his patients. When we parted at the hospital she told me she was glad to have met me and I think it was then that I realised the importance of what had happened to me. The organ donor program was not only saving lives with the hearts, lungs and kidneys, it was changing lives by giving us the gift of better sight as well!