News & Stories

Changing Lives Every Day

News & Stories

Donor Family Visits ILEB

Every Life Has a Story
Donor family members Geri and Patti

Family Services Coordinator, Deb Schuett, welcomed special guests to the eye bank—Geri Ryan and her daughter, Patti, from the Dubuque area. Geri is the wife of Paul F. Ryan who died in 2002 at Finley Hospital in Dubuque. Paul donated his corneas to the Iowa Lions Eye Bank for transplant to 2 grateful recipients, one from Illinois and the other from Iowa.

Lions’ efforts in 2007 result in new therapy in 2018

General News
Lions International logo

Physician clinicians and researchers in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Iowa continue to make important research breakthroughs in the fight to combat Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis (LCA), a genetically inherited eye disease that causes babies to be born blind or children to go blind before reaching school age.

James Continues to Give After His Death

Every Life Has a Story
Donor James Neisz

James Neisz 

(Sep 23, 1968 - Apr 12, 2018)

James, from Arthur, IA, was happily married to the love of his life, Tanya, and had eight children, who were his pride and joy. James loved fishing and enjoyed anything to do with cars, old and new. Gathering with his family and friends brought great happiness to James, and he is dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Cornea Donation and Transplantation Brings New Connection to Lifelong Friends

Gift of Sight
Donor Tom White and recipient Lynn Hauser

“I know who my donor is.”

These were the first words cornea recipient Lynn Hauser said during a phone call to the Iowa Lions Eye Bank family services coordinator, Deb Schuett. Throughout her ten years as family services coordinator, Deb has had very few calls where a recipient believed to know their donor, and never were their suspicions correct.

Four ILEB corneas restore sight in Swaziland

General News
Dr. Matthew Ward and recipient

When former University of Iowa resident and fellow Dr. Matthew Ward needed corneal tissue for transplants during a recent mission trip to Swaziland with The Luke Commission (TLC), he immediately reached out to the Iowa Lions Eye Bank.

Heather McKiness

Gift of Sight
Recipient Heather
"January 31, 2018, I received the most beautiful gift of sight. Your loved one donated a cornea to me to love and grow, and just one week later, I could see 20/25."

Debbie Maynor

Gift of Sight
Recipient Debbie Maynor and husband
"The gift of restored sight is amazing. It allows me to continue to do what I love and begin new chapters in my life. I am able to participate with the next generation of our family."