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Kathy and Daniel Hurst talked about everything and spent every moment together – at home , traveling and even at work . They met as employees at a local school , Daniel a teacher and Kathy a secretary , fell in love and began their life together .
“ Every day we would sit and talk for hours ,” said Kathy from the large green cushion of her husband ’ s favorite chair .
But she will never forget the conversation that would one day give her the answer to an unimaginable question and give two people the gift of sight .
Daniel was a role-model father to their three children and beloved teacher and school principal for 38 years .
“ He loved his family and his students , and would do anything to help others ,” said Kathy . “ Everyone knew him and respected him .”
Even after he retired , he stayed in touch with students and colleagues , always willing to write a letter of recommendation or make a phone call to lend a helping hand .
“ Service was just part of who he was ,” said Kathy . “ He would say : it ’ s not about me . It ’ s about doing what ’ s right .”
One day while having their evening talk , the topic of organ donation came up .
“ It ’ s funny , after all these years we had never discussed it before ,” Kathy said .
“ We talked about our wishes to someday become a donor and that it was important to us . But we never took the next step to make it official .”
Less than a year later , that conversation became the center of a decision she never imagined .
On August 30 , 2015 , Daniel started experiencing shortness of breath and was rushed to the hospital . Soon after he arrived , he had gone into cardiac arrest and could not be revived .
The doctors approached Kathy about Daniel becoming a donor .
Because he wasn ’ t a registered eye , organ , and tissue donor , she would have to make the decision .
In shock and heartbroken by his sudden death , she didn ’ t know what to do . She talked with her children and initially the family chose not to pursue donation . But then Kathy remembered back to that day , sitting across from Daniel in his green chair .
She thought about what they had discussed and Daniel ’ s kind and generous spirit .
“ At that point , there was no question ,” she said . “ It was the right thing to do .”
Later that night , Kathy received a call from Eversight .
“ They called to tell me that Daniel could be an eye donor ,” Kathy said .
Spring 2016 | VISION | Page 4