About 18 months ago, I performed a penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) on “Diane,” a patient who had been coming to my Worcester, Mass., practice for 10 years. Diane was a very pleasant elderly woman who gifted me a Christmas ornament every year.

THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM

A different specialist performed her initial PKP, and the procedure had not gone well. At the time of the second PKP, I discovered epithelial/fibrous downgrowth, and this eventually led to graft failure and the development of a corneal ulcer with crystalline keratitis in the graft. The only option to save the eye from enucleation was to perform a third PKP and graft procedure.

Thankfully, the third time was the charm. Diane is doing fine a year out with 20/200 vision in the operated eye. The graft is in pristine condition.

A “MIRACLE CORNEA”

Beyond Diane’s positive results, it was a note she received that made this story truly special.

On one of Diane’s follow-up visits, she said she wanted to share something with me and produced a handwritten letter sent from the donor family. They wrote to Diane to share that her graft came from their 4-year-old daughter, who died in a tragic accident. Still, they were so happy that a part of their child could live on and help Diane to see.

After reading the letter (reproduced below), I was on the verge of tears. Diane saw this and told me, “It’s OK. I cried too. I think this is my miracle cornea.” We both cried together after she said that.

My heart goes out to any family that has suffered the loss of a child. As the father of two girls, I can’t imagine the pain of losing one of them. OM

 Joe Williams, MD, PhD, is in private practice in Worcester, Mass.