Heroes in someone else’s eyes
Arlene M. Paredes
Published on September 7, 2005 in the Philippine Daily Inquirer
YOU ARE YOUNG, HEALTHY AND full of dreams for your family and yourself. The sight of your loved ones inspires you to pursue your undertakings and hope for the best in your future. You are studying in a reputable university, trying to make your dreams come true or still trying to figure out what you really want to do with your life. You have a vision for yourself. And you want to see this vision fulfilled. Now, when your mind is focused on living and getting everything you can get out of life, how would you react if an organization were to approach you to consider what you can do after you die? Would you be willing to be a hero and continue to live long after you’re gone?
“Be a hero in someone’s eyes; be a cornea or eye donor.”
For over 10 years now, this is what the Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines (EBFP) has been doing—encouraging Filipinos to leave a legacy of sight and bringing a fire of hope to people in need of sight-restoring surgery.
It was the eve of National Heroes’ Day when 2bU! attended “Vision for a Vision” dinner at the Nicotina Garden Pavilion and joined a roomful of modern-day heroes led by Dr. Minguita Padilla, founder and president of EBFP, in celebrating 10 years of restoring sight to those in need of a cornea transplant.
The cornea is the transparent tissue covering our eye and transmitting light to the brain. An accident resulting in eye injury, a disease or some hereditary conditions can damage the cornea and subsequently reduce vision to the point of corneal blindness. EBFP’s mission is to alleviate corneal blindness, one of the top four causes of remediable blindness in the country and in the world.
EBFP, a nonprofit, nongovernment, humanitarian organization, hopes to convince more people to pledge their corneal tissue for the sake of those who are blind. “At any one point there are at least 300 people waiting for corneal tissue in the reservation list of the Eye Bank. Although the four to five months waiting time is very good by world standards, each additional day in darkness is like an eternity for someone ignited with the hope of restored sight. With the help of our generous supporters we hope to cut this waiting time at least in half so that we may help more people, and help them more effectively,” said Dr. Padilla.
EBFP manages and operates the Santa Lucia International Eye Bank of Manila (SLIEB), which is the only internationally accredited, active, state-of-the-art, 24-hour eye-banking facility in the country.
Asking for organ and tissue donation calls for a lot of courage. Fortunately, the founder of EBFP has more than just unwavering courage; she has the firm determination to fulfill the EBFP vision and bring sight back especially to indigent Filipinos. “We were working practically alone, very quietly (in the beginning)… In fact some people said, ‘You’ll never make it,’” shares Dr. Padilla, grateful that financial and technical support eventually reached them and more people have continuously supported the eye bank and the EBFP vision.
A donated cornea and eye tissue is the only chance for many people to restore their eyesight. Topnotch broadcast journalist Che Che Lazaro is one of the many grateful recipients of a cornea transplant. An 18-year-old girl, whom we shall call “Baby Joy,” from Binalonan, Pangasinan, had congenital corneal blindness which slowly affected her since she was 2 months old. She was finally able to regain her eyesight around two yeas ago through the help of EBFP. A member of Cafgu (Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit) slowly lost his vision during a mission in Mindanao in 1993. He regained his eyesight just last year after two successful corneal transplants.
However, thousands of people are still waiting for heroes with generous hearts to donate his or her eyes upon death or the eyes of a family member who had just died. The good news is we can all be eye donors. We can contact EBFP and pledge our cornea tissues now.
Sarah Geronimo, one of the youngest celebrity supporters of EBFP, says she is very happy to be a part of the “Tears of Hope, Tears of Health” campaign of EBFP. The young singing champion muses, “Tickets din po ‘yun sa heaven…”
With all things considered and put in good perspective, wouldn’t you want to be a hero in someone else’s eyes, too?
“Vision for a Vision” was a fundraising dinner attended by the supporters of the “Tears of Hope, Tears of Health” campaign of EBFP and Visine Refresh. The night was a culminating activity for Sight Saving Month, highlighted by an auction of precious items previously owned by celebrity supporters of EBFP, like director Jose Javier Reyes, actress Rica Peralejo, broadcast journalist and cornea recipient Che Che Lazaro, former Bb. Pilipinas Universe Abbygale Arenas-De Leon, top photographer Jun De Leon and makeup expert Juan Sarte.
The Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines is at Suite 246 Makati Medical Center, 2 Amorsolo St., Makati City. Telefax No:. 8935995; cell phone 0917-8935995; E-mail eyebank1@ultimate.info.com.ph (Inquirer link here.)
Important facts about eye donation
MANY BLIND PEOPLE CAN SEE almost perfectly after a corneal transplant. The damaged corneas are replaced with clear tissues supplied by the bank.
Anyone, regardless of age, whether or not you wear eyeglasses or contact lenses, or had an eye disease may donate their corneas for transplant.
One may choose to donate their corneal tissue alone or the entire eye. Other parts of the eye may also be used for sight-saving surgeries.
There are no visible signs of the eye or corneal removal. Once removed, they are replaced with an eye cap or prosthetic so that the appearance of the face is maintained.
Corneal or eye donation is not contrary to most church doctrine. Organ donation is not a desecration of the human body. It is supported and approved by the most religious denominations.
Source: The Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines primer
E-mail the author at lhenparedes@gmail.com
