Luke had a corneal transplant

Luke is a father of 3 children and husband to a wonderful wife. But beyond his family life, he is also grateful for 2 life-changing corneal grafts. Luke received his first transplant at age 13 and his second at 15.
‘When I was about 13, my vision deteriorated so much that I couldn’t see the eye chart or read the blackboard at school. I had to rely on listening to my teachers and classmates. It was a world of darkness where I could only make out shadows and silhouettes.’
Because of the shape of his eye, Luke couldn’t tolerate contact lenses. Hoping for a solution, he visited an ophthalmologist in Sydney, expecting to be prescribed a different type of lens.
‘He took one look at my eyes and said I needed surgical intervention,’ Luke recalls.
Luke was diagnosed with keratoconus, a degenerative eye condition that distorts the cornea’s shape. Within 2 weeks, he had his first corneal graft at Sydney Eye Hospital.
‘It was scary, but what really stuck with me was how immediate the change was. As soon as the pad came off, I looked at the eye chart and could read 4 lines down — without glasses!’
His second corneal graft took place when he was 15 years old and remarkably, it was also the day he received his Higher School Certificate (HSC) results.
‘I remember going into surgery that morning. When I was back on the ward, because we didn’t have mobiles then, I used the hospital desk phone to call a friend and find out my HSC results.’
After his corneal grafts, Luke returned to his passions, reading and archery. He feels deeply grateful to the 2 donors who changed his life.
‘Being able to see the world, appreciate the beauty of the Northern Territory, and watch my children grow up has been absolutely life changing.’
Having spent a fair bit of time at surgical and outpatient appointments, Luke was supported by dedicated doctors and nurses throughout his journey. Now 21 years later, he gives back to his community by working at NSW Health, NT Health, and West Moreton Health.
‘As a healthcare leader, I always keep my transplant and the generosity of my donors front of mind. Their kindness guides my own principles in helping those who need it.’
Luke is forever grateful to his donors and their family.
‘In their moment of pain and loss, they honoured their loved one by saying yes to organ and tissue donation to give others the gift of life. How do you truly express gratitude for such a selfless act? ‘Thank you’ feels small, but it’s what I want to say to my donors and their family, as limited as those words are.’