Testimonials

Corneal Recipient

 

 

Mr. James Vanderberry was diagnosed with degenerative corneal disease in 2010. He retired from the US Air Force at Barksdale after a 30 year career, mostly in the medical field. As his second career, Mr. Vanderberry worked at Willis-Knighton Medical Center as the VP and Administrator before retiring after 10 years. Both Mr. Vanderberry and his wife are active in military affairs as Eagles in support of Barksdale AFB. He is a board member at the Shriner's Hospital in Shreveport, La, along with being a dedicated board member of the 911 Board in Bossier City, La. He also was the Administrator of Scottish Rite Speech & Language Center in Shreveport, La for 8 years. In November, 2010, Dr. John Carmody performed a corneal transplant on Mr. Vanderberry. Ever since the transplant Mr. Vanderberry states, "my vision is absolutely magnificent and I feel so blessed to be looking through that young man's eyes." His corneas were donated from Jordan Aucoin, one of Louisiana Lions Eye Bank's donors. Now, Mr. Vanderberry is doing everything to honor Jordan Aucoin and his family as he works diligently to provide the eye bank with the necessary equipment needed to continue serving and giving the gift of sight to others.

 

Corneal Donor

 

 

Jordan Aucoin was born in Pineville, La on May 31, 1992. Jordan was the oldest of five children. Jordan loved to hunt, fish, and most of all play football. Jordan went to Pine Prairie High School where he played football for three years. Well liked by his peers, Jordan was elected Basketball Homecoming Senior Prince. On November 18, 2010, on the way to pick up his two sisters, Jordan was involved in a motor vehicle accident. In the accident, Jordan suffered severe head trauma. Making the decision on his own, Jordan had become an organ donor at the age of 18, months before the accident. His choice then, now helps his family with the grieving process by knowing that Jordan is now living through his recipients because his was an organ donor.

 

The families were reunited for the first time in March of 2013