Image

Marilyn Whiting knew that even in death her husband would want to help.

On Aug. 1, her husband Ray (Dick), died in hospital. Whiting went to the nurses to tell them he had passed, and they asked if he might donate his eyes so someone else could see. The nurses told her to talk it over with her family, but Whiting instinctively knew what Ray would have wanted.

“I knew exactly what he would say; ‘I’ve got no more use for them; if they can help someone else, go for it.’

“He was a very giving man.”

The corneas were harvested and used in four people, Whiting was later told. She also received a certificate of thanks in the mail from the Trillium Gift of Life Network.

Then, this fall, the organization brought all of the donors families together to honour their gift. Whiting, her son and two of Ray’s brothers went to the ceremony in London. Whiting says it was very moving.

At one point, organizers read a letter from a man in his twenties who had been losing his sight since he was 16. He was married and recently had a baby girl. The transplant helped him see his daughter for the first time.

“It was so emotional.”

And while Whiting never had any doubts about her decision to allow her husband’s eyes to be donated, there was comfort for families too, with the chair of Trillium’s board likening donating your eyes to stomping out wine from old grapes “you’re taking what is best about a person and making something better.”

Share This

Image
Front Page

All Canadian Clash in Gold Medal Game At U17 World Challenge

November 9, 2024

John Wright/The Independent For the first time since 2009, two Canadian teams will meet in the gold medal game of the U17 World Challenge. Canada White beat Sweden 6-4 in the first semifinal Friday in Sarnia. Mathis Preston led the way offensively recording a hat trick and an assist. Special teams continued to a big part of Canada White’s success

Read More

Image
Front Page

Flyers snap losing skid

November 8, 2024

The Petrolia Flyers snapped a mini two game losing skid by beating Lucan, 10-1 Thursday at the Greenwood Recreation Centre. Owen Peters and Andrew Jaques led the winners with four points each. Peters had two goals and two assists and Jaques scored once and added three helpers. Evan Morningstar also scored twice for Petrolia. Parker Davidson, Logan O’Leary-Dilosa, Noel Sanderson,

Read More

Image
Front Page

Lancers win Lambton-Kent volleyball titles

November 8, 2024

LCCVI has claimed both the Junior and Senior boys Lambton-Kent volleyball titles. In the Senior game, LCCVI beat John McGregor 3-0, winning the sets 25-19, 25-22 and 25-16 at home. The Juniors defeated the Wolfpack at Great Lakes 3-0. The Lancers won the sets 25-14, 25-18 and 35-14.

Read More

Image
Front Page

Two buildings destroyed in Marthaville fire

November 8, 2024

Two buildings were destroyed and at least two more were heavily damaged in a Marthaville fire. Petrolia/North Enniskillen firefighters were called to Prince Street, just off Lasalle Line around 3 pm Friday. When firefighters arrived, two people were on the property with a hydro wire arching overhead, according to Fire Chief Rick Cousins. The pair left the property as high

Read More