Country Club Hills girl featured in eye donor campaign
BY KATIE FANUK | Chicago Sun-Times

Twelve-year-old Amaris Stokes, a pediatric eye tissue recipient, is one of five children featured in the latest Secretary of State Organ/Tissue Donor Registry campaign that raises awareness for Eye Donor Awareness Month.

“It was a lot of fun and I was really excited about it,” said Stokes, of Country Club Hills.

In November 2009, Stokes received a sclera (eye white) implant that helped to improve her eyesight. Her family considers the poster campaign to be Amaris’ opportunity to share her story with others.

In 2003, when Stokes was 4, she was diagnosed with uveitis, a condition that causes inflammation in the eye. Doctors also discovered a cataract on her right eye. She was later diagnosed with glaucoma in her right eye.

Since 2004, Stokes has undergone six eye surgeries including three cataract surgeries, a vitrectomy and an iridectomy — a procedure that treats glaucoma. During her most recent glaucoma surgery in November 2009, Stokes had a shunt placement, which was then covered by donated sclera.

After a six-week recovery, the shunt procedure has significantly improved Stokes’ eyesight. Although she still has to take medication daily, the honor roll student has been able to return to some of her favorite activities such as swimming and photography.

“I think this is her chance to tell her story because just by looking at her, you have no idea that she’s had this,” said Mary Schlereth, a public education coordinator for the Illinois Eye Bank.

“I think that she can really help us spread the message of the importance of people being eye donors because without eye donors, who knows what her vision would be like today or in the future.”

Schlereth initially contacted Crystal Stokes to see if her daughter would participate in the poster campaign. This phone call made Crystal realize the significance of spreading the word about eye donation and annual eye checkups. Although there is no waiting list for eye transplant recipients, Schlereth said there still is a need for donors, especially in cases of emergency cornea surgeries. One eye donor can provide tissue for up to four recipients. Tissue that cannot be utilized for transplants is sent to research labs.

Schlereth also stressed the importance of early diagnosis and annual eye exams for people of all ages, especially since a number of eye conditions are not hereditary.

“This can affect anyone at any age,” Schlereth said. “We always think that it’s older people with bad eyesight, and obviously that is not the case.”

Stokes enjoyed being involved in the poster campaign, so much so it makes her want to continue raising awareness about organ and tissue donation by writing a book about her experiences.

She always finds encouragement from her mom.

“I told Amaris, ‘You’re blessed and you want to be able to bless somebody else,’ ” Crystal Stokes said.

More information about eye tissue donation can be found at www.illinoiseyebank.org. More information about organ/tissue donation can be found at www.lifegoeson.com.