01/02/2026
Let's kick off 2026 with an inspiring Story of Hope!
For as long as he can remember, words and observation have been at the center of George Rede’s life. As a journalist, then a part-time instructor at a university, and now as a personal blogger in retirement, he’s always depended on his eyes to do the work he loves: reading, writing, and paying close attention to the world. So when George was diagnosed with Fuchs dystrophy and explained that, if left untreated, it could eventually cost him his vision, it landed with a thud. At some point, he’d have to decide whether to have two corneal transplants or slowly watch his vision fade.
For a while, George was able to cope. At each annual appointment, he’d mentally cross his fingers, hoping things were stable enough to wait another year. But gradually, the changes became too obvious to ignore, especially at night. Headlights and streetlights turned into starbursts of glare. Residential streets felt more nerve-wracking, not less. His wife would ask, “Do you have your night glasses?” or, “Do we really want to go to this event? It’ll be dark when we drive home.” He also started to notice a gritty feeling in his eyes and the occasional need for lubricating drops.
When his cornea specialist, Dr. Jessica Chen at Devers Eye Institute of Legacy Health, finally said, “I think it’s time to decide,” George measured his options. The idea of eye surgery (twice) gave him pause. But the thought of giving up reading, driving, and independence was harder. In the summer of 2025, he moved forward with two cornea transplants, followed by laser treatments to fine-tune the results.
The difference afterward has been huge. Today, George has 20/20 distance vision in both eyes without glasses. He still uses glasses for reading, but the world beyond arm’s length is crisp again. On neighborhood walks, he can pick out the details on a bright fall leaf. At the grocery store, he can read the fine print on labels without struggling. At the bowling alley, he jokes that he can finally see all ten pins clearly, even if his scores are still a work in progress.
And underneath all of that is a deep sense of gratitude. George knows his vision today is possible only because two strangers, and their families, said “yes” to donation. When he learned that each eye received a cornea from a different donor, he became acutely aware that two families, in the middle of loss, chose to help someone they’d never meet.
As a writer, George has shared his transplant story on his blog and with friends, hoping it might ease someone else’s fears about surgery or inspire them to register as a donor. His experience is a reminder that the generosity of donors can take a scary diagnosis and turn it into something else entirely: a second chance to see clearly, and to keep doing the things one loves.
