Joel had a corneal transplant

When Joel Jensen was born, his parents were overjoyed to welcome their baby boy. But their happiness quickly turned to concern when they noticed Joel’s left eye was clouded a striking electric blue and that he had no irises in either eye. 

Doctors soon diagnosed him with Peters Anomaly and Sporadic Aniridia – a rare, serious eye conditions that would shape his early life. Joel’s mum Tash recalls the shock of those first days, saying she never imagined her son would be born with such severe vision impairment. 

At just 2 weeks old, Joel was transferred from Wagga Wagga to the Children’s Hospital Westmead for a life-changing corneal transplant.  

The surgery marked the beginning of a long and demanding journey for the family, with frequent hospital trips and ongoing eye medication.    

‘We were living week to week,’ Tash says.  

‘A lot of vegemite sandwiches. But we did what we had to do. ‘Every week, every appointment, every drop – it was all worth it.’ 

Today, at 25, Joel is a thriving artist and proud owner of his own art studio in Wagga Wagga.  

What began as sketching on his phone to magnify details has grown into a career built on vibrant colour and his love for vintage objects.  

He also competes in blind and low-vision lawn bowls, with ambitions of joining the national team. 

Though he describes his vision as ‘looking through a thick fog,’ he continues to find beauty everywhere.  

‘Tissue donation gave me a future. A better one, full of opportunity,’ Joel says.