The Florida sun shimmered on the water as Jenn B. set out for what seemed like just another day paddleboarding. She had no idea that a microscopic, single-celled organism called Acanthamoeba was about to change her life forever.

Not long after, Jenn began experiencing excruciating pain in her left eye. Her vision blurred, and light — something she once loved about living in the Sunshine State — became unbearable. She saw doctor after doctor, 14 in total, but none could pinpoint the cause of her suffering. Her world darkened, quite literally. Unable to drive, unable to go outside without deep black sunglasses, she spent her days in dark rooms behind blackout curtains, hoping for relief that never seemed to come.

Her cornea, severely damaged, endured painful procedures but nothing quite worked, and the agony always returned. It wasn’t until she met Dr. S at St. Luke's Cataract & Laser Institute that she finally heard the words that would change everything: Acanthamoeba keratitis. The only hope for true healing? A corneal transplant.

That hope arrived from across the country, through the selfless generosity of a family facing unimaginable loss. A Lions Eye Bank in Colorado connected Jenn with a donor: Shaun, a vibrant 23-year-old who loved the outdoors, adventure, and helping others. Though his life was tragically cut short, his legacy lived on through the gift of sight, restoring vision for Jenn and another grateful recipient.

Through the aftercare program offered by all eye banks, Jenn was able to write to Shaun’s family, expressing her deep gratitude. She received a letter in return, filled with stories about the young man whose generosity changed her life. Shaun’s family spoke of his love for nature, his adventurous spirit, and his striking, big, beautiful blue eyes. 

Before she even knew Shaun’s story, Jenn had made a lighthearted request before surgery. She joked to the medical team, “Can you make my brown eyes blue?” Little did she know that Shaun’s family would later describe his eyes as his most defining feature.

Today, Jenn cherishes that letter, keeping it by her bedside as a daily reminder of the young man who gave her more than just sight — he gave her back her freedom, her independence, and a renewed appreciation for life. And though her eye color remains the same, she sees the world through a lens forever changed by the generosity of a stranger turned guardian.

Because of the gift of eye donation, Jenn’s story is one of resilience, gratitude, and hope — a story that reminds us all of the profound impact one person can have on another.