Cornea gift unites families

The Daily Republican | Cynthia Grau
Photo: Rebecca Koltveit, center, had the chance to meet the sisters of the man whose cornea was given to her through organ transplant, top left, Christy Gault, Koltveit, Kathy Lewis, and bottom, Michelle Keagle.

Pontiac, Ill. -- The Bauch and Lomb Run for Vision 5K fundraiser in Grant Park, Chicago, on Nov. 11, wasn’t a stereotypical race. In fact, it was the first time in the history of the Iowa Lions Eye Bank that a donor family met with the recipient of the donor’s gift.

Rebecca Koltveit of Pontiac met the family of Ryan Otte, the young man from Wakefield, Neb., who died just short of his 22nd birthday in 2007. After his death in a tragic farm-related accident, his family chose to donate his organs and Koltveit received one of his corneas.

Koltveit was asked to participate in the run by the Iowa Lions Eye Bank and when word spread, Otte’s sisters, Michelle, Christy and Kathy responded, saying that they wanted to run with her. The surgeon that oversaw the transplant, Dr. Kenneth Goins, also came along for the run.

Coincidentally, Koltveit won her age group, completing the race in 28 minutes. There were a total of 263 runners. The fundraiser also gained $16,000 for the Eye Bank Association of America.

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