The Eye Bank relies on members of the community to facilitate donations. When a family or individual makes the decision to donate, it is often due to the humanitarian request by a nurse, chaplain, or other hospital staff member. Nurses and physicians aid the Eye Bank in carefully screening each donor for conditions that may adversely affect the outcome of the donation. Other health care professionals play an important role in the screening process as well. From staff in medical records to technicians in the laboratory, it would be impossible to assure transplant safety without these dedicated professionals.
Funeral directors are also a vital link in the donation process. Funeral directors spend countless hours donating their time facilitating the gift of sight. Many funeral directors are specially trained, and volunteer their time, to remove eye tissue. Without their assistance, effectuating donations in the remote parts of the State of Oregon would be difficult and cost prohibitive. These dedicated individuals provide families with an option that would otherwise not be available. By working with the Eye Bank to facilitate donation, they give families an opportunity to have their loved ones live on through sight-restoring transplants and research. |
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