DONATE LIFE ROSE PARADE FLOAT - MEET FLOAT RIDER CORNEA RECIPIENT CRISTINA MARGOLIS FROM SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA

Cornea recipient Age 26 ~ San Jose, CA Undergraduate Admissions Coordinator, SJSU Sponsored by SightLife

In May 2007, Cristina Margolis's right eye was diagnosed with a very rare and serious infection called acanthamoeba keratitis. Three months of intense treatment left her right eye a lifeless pale blue that made her feel ashamed and ugly. Last December, she received the most special Christmas gift she could imagine: a cornea transplant. On August 8 of this year, Cristina, whose sight is now 20/40, saw the birth of Giuliana, her first child. Cristina's Story On December 10, 2008, Cristina Margolis received the most special Christmas gift she could imagine: a cornea transplant. When her eye patch was removed the next day, she slowly opened her eye, a bit afraid of what she was going to see, and saw her mother smiling. “I was astonished by how clearly I could see her. I shouted, ‘I can see you!’ and we began to cry tears of joy in the doctor's office,” recalled Cristina, a college admissions coordinator. “It was truly a wonderful moment that my mother and I will remember for the rest of our lives.” 18 months before, Cristina's right eye was diagnosed with a very rare and serious infection called acanthamoeba keratitis. After three months toxic drops and cornea scrapings used to eradicate an eye infection left her right eye a lifeless pale blue that made her feel ashamed and ugly. Now, the eye is back to the same beautiful blue that had brought Cristina compliments all of her life. ”I can look at people in their eyes when we talk and not have to worry about them staring at my eye,” she affirmed. Today Cristina’s sight is 20/40. “My family and I are tremendously grateful for my donor's cornea. Not a day goes by that I don't thank my donor for their gift of sight and pray for my donor and my donor's family,” she said. On August 8, 2009, Cristina gave birth to Giuliana, her first child. “Knowing that I would be able to see my baby's beautiful face when she was born, watch her take her first steps, and witness all of the other milestones mothers are blessed to see brings tears to my eyes. I can't wait until the day when I get to tell my daughter about the best Christmas gift her mother ever received, and how her mother holds and will always hold a special place in her heart for her donor and her donor's family.” Do you want to honor a transplant recipient whom you know: a transplant recipient, a heroic donor family, transplant team? You can have a rose dedicated to be placed on the 2010 Rose Parade Float Family Circle Garden. To learn more and how to honor that special hero by visiting the Donate Life Family Circle. The Donate Life Rose Parade Float is the world's largest organ donation awareness event to encourage individuals to learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation then register to be a donor. In California, please visit Donate Life California - in other states please click HERE.