Donating your loved one’s corneas is almost always a positive and rewarding experience, but in the case of Melanie and Bob Schmidt, it seems even more so. After the death of their son, Erik, Melanie and Bob made the decision to donate his bone, connective tissue, Sapheneous vein, heart for valve, and corneas. The South Dakota Lions Eye Bank was able to place both corneas for transplant. One went to a seven-year-old male in Tennessee and one went to a male under the age of one year in North Carolina. It is the story of the boy in North Carolina that paints the true picture of the miracle donation can bring to others.

On July 27, 2000, a baby boy was born to two loving parents. The boy was born with a rare genetic disorder called chloroformed (see below), which means he was born without a working cornea. Without a replacement cornea, the child would most likely be blind his entire life. Because both parents had this same disorder, and also some mild retardation, Social Services stepped in and took the little boy. Social Services then asked the eye bank in North Carolina (LifeShare Eye Facility) if they could provide a cornea for this child.