My name is Lexie, I am a 32 year old single mother of two boys. I am a full time student at SUU located here in Utah and I aspire to help people in the criminal justice system. I had decreased vision when I was in my teens but it only got worse when I started wearing contacts. I didn’t take them out when I should have and I slept in them all the time.. this unfortunately was my demise for vision. My corneas were deprived of so much oxygen that blood vessels grew were they’re not supposed to grow on your eye and I suffered so much non reversible scarring. My right eye was declared legally blind.. this was hard to hear. But when my surgeon suggested a corneal transplant as that was all I could do- I said yes! I just had my transplant and I’m 2 days post op. I am so grateful for the chance to see again! My donor made the selfless decision to donate and give someone like me a second chance. I am beyond grateful! I am more ambitious about finishing school, helping people and also advocating for others on contact lens hygiene! I tell everyone, I have a little piece of my donor living on that’s giving me the chance at seeing again. Although I will have to have another transplant of my left eye in the future, I will always remember 4/20 as my new lease on life!
To my donor- thank you, words cannot describe or express how grateful I am to you, you gave me a second chance, I get to see my boys grow up and I’m so happy and proud that I get to carry a part of you and your legacy will live on!
-Lexie Banuelos 🦋
