Host Candice Coghlan is joined by Amber Needham and her living eye stem cell donor, Kathy O’Toole. They discuss how Amber lost her eyesight twice from unique situations. Amber, Kathy and Candice talk about their remarkable journey as Amber went from 2020 vision to blindness and how she was given a second chance with sight when Kathy donated stem cells from her eye. They are later joined by Amber’s ophthalmologist, Dr. Clara Chan, who talks about fascinating innovation in science with stem cell transplants, the healing properties of amniotic membranes, and how her work is a lesson in humanity and the strength of patients.
To purchase Amber’s book, The Blind Girl Sees, visit: https://www.amazon.ca/Blind-Girl-Sees-Seeing-Through/dp/1039136869
To learn more about Amber’s charity work visit: https://uhnfoundation.ca/stories/amber-needham-rides-toward-vision-care-for-all/
If you are interested in learning more about stem cell donation you can visit:
https://www.blood.ca/en/stemcells/donating-stemcells/stemcell-eligibility-and-registration
https://www.uhn.ca/PatientsFamilies/Health_Information/Health_Topics/Documents/Living_Donor_Corneal_Limbal_Stem_Cell_Transplant.pdf
Or reach out directly to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca
The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network.
