Erica Singley

At age 5, Erica’s kindergarten physical was far from normal. The pediatrician noticed something was wrong with her right eye and scheduled an appointment with the local ophthalmologist that day. Due to the severity, Erica was referred to a cornea specialist at the UW of Madison. There, it was confirmed that chicken pox, which she had two weeks before her physical, had scared her cornea.

As she grew, the cornea became cloudy, her vision became worse, and her eye was changing shape, so she was placed on the transplant list in June 1984. Six months later, she got the important call that a donor was available, and she was pulled from her 5th-grade classroom. It was a life-changing event for the 10-year-old as immediately following the successful transplant, her vision was restored to 20/50 without a corrective lens from 20/300.

Her big brown eyes are her best feature, and they can always tell a story now, including her donor’s. Even though she will never meet her donor, she carries on his legacy, spirit, and vision through her eyes and celebrates his life and the gift of sight that he has given her.

Erica gives back by spreading awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation by speaking at conferences and events for various organizations, volunteering for the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin, being a transporter, and being a Madison West Lion’s Club member.

Pictured above is Erica with Dr. Fred Brightbill, who performed her cornea transplant in 1984.