Six months ago I was diagnosed with Fuchs’ Dystrophy. My eye doctor just gave me generalities. and cadaver transplant is the only recourse. So I have been finding information wherever I can stumble on it.

One example, I am a ham, or Licensed Amateur Radio Operator. One morning a couple months ago I ran across a radio net called Eye Bank Net. Could it be that there is a radio net concerned with Fuchs’ Dystrophy? Someplace I can talk to people who have, and have had the same diagnosis? Someplace I could hear about the doctors who do the surgery?

I checked in to the net and asked about the name what the net did. I was told, … well here’s what they have on their website (https://eyebank40.net) …

“The Eye Bank Net was organized in 1962 for the purpose of locating and arranging for the distribution of eye cornea tissue to be used in corneal transplant operations. We handled this traffic for over 30 years, until the internet took over this job. During that time, the Eye Bank Net assisted in the transfer of over 11,000 eye tissues. We are now a public service net and we continue to meet out of fellowship and to help keep the tradition of Amateur Radio in public service alive.”

So I was disappointed to learn that there was no experience or expertise on that net. Boy, I had such hopes!

But not a week later I found the Corneal Dystrophy Foundation and Fuchs’ Friends!! It was exactly what I was searching for. I have talked to people in their group and watched a presentation by a prominent doctor and while I still have a lot to learn, my anxiety is greatly reduced.

I have two metal hips, eyeglasses, hearing aids and a lot of crowns and fillings. I am very happy that there are people who dedicate their lives to helping people in amazing ways. When my time comes for transplant, I will again put my trust in the people who do the surgery. I will stay active in Fuchs’ Friends to share my experience with the newly diagnosed people who join the group.