Changing Lives Every Day
News & Stories
Iowa House Minority Leader has a lot of gratitude for Lions
In 2025, Iowa Lions Eye Bank will celebrate its 70th anniversary. To celebrate, we will be posting occasional features about people who have either had an impact, or been impacted by, the eye bank over the years.
Veteran, postal carrier always went the extra mile
This is a letter Ron Salsbury of Underwood, Iowa, wrote to one of the recipients of his wife Lori’s corneas.
After infection, she can see again thanks to transplant
Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare parasitic eye infection that can damage the cornea and cause blindness. Often, people will contract it from water, while swimming in places like lakes and ponds. According to the Cleveland Clinic, contact lens wearers make up at least 90 percent of the cases.
Avid outdoorsmen would help anyone he could
David Miller loved to hunt and fish.
“Some of our best memories were of him and my husband out fishing,” says his sister, Peggy Hember, of Missouri Valley.
'If he loved you, you knew it,' donor's sister says
When asked to describe her brother John Luallin, Mary Strait uses terms like “wild, wooly, silly, kind, smart and ornery.”
Those “are just a few of the words that could be used to describe such a complex man,” Strait says.
After 'living in a fog,' she can see clearly now
Pat McIntosh lives a busy life in Dunkerton, Iowa.
Dedicated Lion, former teacher was committed to helping others
Jerry and Connie Inman of Mechanicsville were married for 56 years after meeting on a blind date while they attended the University of Northern Iowa, where both studied education. They shared two children and five grandchildren.
Life no longer solitary for Minnesota woman with 'one good eye'
When she was six months old, Stephanie Goese was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma.
Transplant lifechanging for musician, sound healer
Alma Drake is a musician and a sound healer and spends a lot of their time listening with their eyes closed.
But when they did open their eyes, they struggled to read, recognize people, and drive, especially at night.
Two-time cornea recipient competes at Transplant Games
When she was in college, Crystal Ellis struggled with a lack of depth perception due to a giant cloudy scar on her right eye.