Photos & Videos
Georgia Eye Donor Month
On February 21, 2012 representatives from Georgia Eye Bank, Inc. visited the state capitol to have a proclamation signed by Gov. Nathan Deal designating March 2012 as Georgia Eye Donor Month.
2012 Governor Eye Donor Month (Photo Names Left to Right): Kayla Walker - Whitesburg, GA; David Thompson - Sandy Springs, GA; Jerome Howard - Mableton, GA; Susan Littlefield - Johns Creek, GA; Chantal Ackah - Atlanta, GA; Nathan Deal -Governor; Bruce Varnum - Pres./CEO – Milton, GA; Katie Higgins - Dunwoody, GA; Chemika Howard - Mableton, GA ; Eric Meinecke - Roswell, GA; Janice Sedgwick - Dallas, GA
2012 Georgia Eye Donor Month Proclamation
Dr. Jimmy Brooks’ mission trip to Kenya
Dr. Jimmy Brooks of Columbus, GA recently traveled to Kenya to provide the Gift of Sight. He performed corneal transplants at Lighthouse Eye Surgery Center in Mombasa using corneas donated by Georgia Eye Bank, Inc.
Dr. Jimmy Brooks performing surgery at the Lighthouse Eye Surgery Center, Mombasa, Kenya, January 2012.
Dr. Jimmy Brooks, Lighthouse donors (back row to Dr. Brooks left) and post-op patients, January 2012.
Georgia Eye Bank On 11 Alive
Combined Cataract and DSEK Surgery
Narrated video of DSEK Corneal Transplant combined with cataract and lens implant surgery. Performed at Piedmont Eye Surgical Center by Alan Kozarsky, M.D. of Eye Consultants of Atlanta and Piedmont Better Vision.
Animation Of Transplant Surgery
Meet Mari Fridenmaker, cornea transplant recipient and Ironman Triathlete!
Triathlete, Mari Fridenmaker, chose to raise awareness of the work performed by Georgia Eye Bank after she became a cornea transplant recipient on April 17, 2002.
In December of 2000, Mari suffered an eye injury when her dog accidentally scratched her left eye. After the scratch, her eye became infected and left her with cloudiness in her cornea. A cornea transplant was the only option to restore her sight.
Shortly after her surgery, Mari decided that she would one day do a triathlon and nothing would stand in her way! She completed her first Olympic distance triathlon in the spring of 2003, which consisted of a 1-mile swim, 25-mile bike ride and a 6.2-mile run. Ever since then, she has been competing in various distance races.
She completed her first Ironman triathlon in 2006 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and her second in 2007 in Lake Placid, NY. An Ironman triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run, all of which must be completed within 17 hours in order to cross the finish line with an official time.
When Mari is not training or fundraising for Georgia Eye Bank, she works full time as an Account Manager for Potter-Holden & Company, an independant insurance agency specializing in Physicians Professional Liability. Mari is also the President and Founder of Peachtree Tri Club, a recreational Triathlon club for adults in Metro Atlanta. She also was elected to the Board of Trustees of Georgia Eye Bank in 2006. Mari enjoys spending her free time with her husband, Steve, and their two dogs, Perry (the one guilty of scratching her eye) and Georgia.
Vision Trek at Lake Allatoona
To commemorate National Eye Donor Awareness Month, a Vision Trek fundraiser event was held at the US Army Corp of Engineers, Lake Allatoona recreation area on March 5th. This 10K Trail Run benefiting Georgia Eye Bank was organized by Board of Trustees member, Mari Fridenmaker, who is a corneal transplant recipient. Several other Trustees participated in the run and event planning.
Vision Trek 2011 was a successful event as well as great fun. Vision Trek 2012 is scheduled for Saturday, March 3, 2012. If you want more information about sponsoring, participating or volunteering at next year’s event, please contact Mari Fridenmaker at trimarifri@gmail.com or at 404-667-0817. Please visit this website for additional 2012 details.