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Click Photo to Enlarge
My brother, David Ross Hunt (left) and the
Ecuadorian recipient of his eyeglasses (right)Photos by Nancy Gordon & Barbara Skinner |
I write this blog post in honour of my brother, David Ross Hunt, who passed away just before his 20th birthday, an inconceivable 35 years ago today. Losing this smart, generous, talented, hard-working, and tender young man was unbearably hard; and, my mom, my sister and I still cherish his memory, all these years later.
That said, David's optimism would never have stood for a sad tale on this anniversary, so I'll simply relate a positive true-life story about how David's generous belief in organ donation ended up providing the gift of sight - in an unexpected way - to a young man far away on another continent.
Specifically, when David's intention to be an organ donor - as indicated on his driver's license - was deemed impossible due to the nature of his brief illness, the donation of David's eyeglasses by our mother to Medical Ministry International Canada, allowed David's spirit of generosity to live on.
Family friend and Optician, Barbara Skinner, carried David's glasses with her - separate from the other carefully cataloged eye wear - while on medical missions to Ecuador following my brother's passing. When she finally found a young man who was able to be fitted with David's frames and prescription, Barb took a picture. On returning to Canada, she gave my mother a copy of the picture showing the young man who's life had been changed immeasurably by receiving David's glasses.
Though tragic beyond words, David's untimely passing made it possible for another young man, thousands of miles away, to see well for the very first time in his life; and, it's clear to see in the photos above that David's strong uncommon prescription and sturdy frames made the Ecuadorian recipient very happy, something that would have made David happy, too.
That a simple pair of eyeglasses could link one person's past with another person's future is the sort of legacy of which David would have approved; so, let the spirit of generosity live on!
For more information about donation of eyeglasses, please link to: Medical Ministry International Canada
For an update on current MMIC work in Ecuador, please link to: MMIC Ecuador
