“I just wanted to share about my husband, Jim. He passed away on June 11, 2021 and his eyes were donated through your organization. His heart valves, arteries and skin grafts were also donated. Jim was a wonderful, loving, attentive husband of 42 years.Read More

Michelle DeHart loved life and lived life to its full potential. She traveled to many places, and in her last year of life, she was able to visit her favorite destinations with her husband Tim, embark on a cross-country RV road trip with her daughter Samantha, and then help plan and witness her daughter Cassidy’s wedding.

Michelle battled lung cancer for 8 years, but she never let it hold her back. She loved running, yoga, going on evening walks with her husband and dogs, camping, gardening, sunflowers, fishing, shopping, traveling, beach trips, hiking, nature, talking with her many best friends and family, as well as caring for her pets and grandpets. She cherished her husband and daughters more than anything and constantly expressed how proud she was of them.

Michelle was a beautiful soul who could light up a room with her smile. She loved making everyone feel special, as if they were the most important person in the world. Her caring nature led her to make it her mission to encourage, inspire, and be a friend to others going through cancer.

Michelle had a genuine passion for giving. Whether it was mentoring those fighting cancer, dedicating all her free time to making people feel cherished, or creating delightful surprises for her husband, daughters, and son-in-law on occasions like Christmas, Birthdays, Easter, and Valentine’s Day. She made every event special. She wanted everyone around her to feel like the most important person in the world. Even after her passing, she was able to give through her cornea donation. For that, we are grateful.

To the recipient of her donation: We will always think of you and pray for you. Our Michelle was selfless and loved fiercely. She saw so much beauty in this world, even through the most difficult times. She was a shining light to anyone who met her. She loved to quote, “Live the life you love, love the life you live.” Thank you for carrying her with you.

Michelle leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, and selflessness. The world is undoubtedly a better place because of people like Michelle. May her memory continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her, and may her example of love and generosity continue to inspire others.

Francisco “Paco” Rodriguez was a special man to everyone he encountered. Exemplifying what it meant to live life to the fullest, he loved everyone with abundance and always treated everyone with respect.

Paco lived a full life. Born-and-raised in a small town of Mezquital in Mexico, he was a true cowboy at heart. When my parents decided they wanted to start their lives in the United States, my dad never let his language barrier dismay him from the pursuit of his “American Dream”.

With his grit and determination he became a U.S. Citizen, put all three of his children through college, successfully started and operated his own small business, and even started his life-long dream of building his “retirement” home in his hometown of Mezquital.

Throughout his 58 years of life, he was able to see many parts of the world with his business. Owning and operating a dental lab that fabricated dental prosthesis, my dad held a certain passion for seeing others smile with confidence. A particular aspect of his life that was dear to him was joining mission trips across different continents and providing dental care to the underserved. It brought him such joy and I can honestly say, I never saw his eyes sparkle in quite the same way as when he was able to give someone else a new smile.

All in all though, despite a plethora of options, I think he considered his greatest accomplishment as being adored and cherished by his wife, two daughters, and son.

Holding the honor of being his eldest daughter, I never pass a chance to sing his praises. Beyond his genuine joy for life, my dad loved deeply and earnestly, listened attentively, and always gave more than he received. Thus, as sorrowful as his untimely passing was, my dad being an organ, tissue and eye donor was never a shock. During our time of great grief, it gave our family such pride to know that even in his absence, he was still able to share apart of himself with others in need.

As much good as he did during his life, he continues do good even beyond. My family and I are so thankful to Miracles In Sight in helping my dad fulfill another one of his dreams. To the recipients of his corneas, I hope you see the world as my dad saw it- full of love, color and hope.

-Anna Rodriguez Carter, Daughter of donor Francisco J. Rodriguez

Our son and brother, Ian Michael Roof, was born on April 15, 1986 and passed away at the age of 36 on January 25, 2023. 

Ian was an active child and that continued on into adulthood.  As a young child he would get home from school and go straight to the kitchen table to complete his homework so he could get outside to play.  Playing and having fun was on the top of his priority list.  He was an exceptional athlete as well, perhaps more because of his understanding of how to play the games than for his natural ability.

Ian attended the University of South Carolina and received a BA degree in 2009.  While there, during one semester, he played on nine intramural teams including men’s basketball, coed basketball, soccer, coed soccer, dodgeball, coed dodgeball etc. etc.  We often wondered how he even completed that semester successfully.

He continued his education at the local community colleges and received a degree in Radiology Technology.  He worked as an X-Ray technician and then obtained credentials to do MRIs.  His last job was conducting MRIs at a local hospital.  We have been told that he was very good at this job-particularly dealing with children who had to have scans.  His ability to put people at ease was his gift.

Ian did not know a stranger and people gravitated to him for his friendship.  He was a good listener, provided sound advice, enjoyed laughing and was by all accounts the life of any party.  He was asked to be a groomsman in more weddings than most of us attend in our lifetime- that is how special he was to others.  His quick wit, willingness to help others, and outgoing personality endeared him to many.  This was indicative in the number of people who came to his service – estimated at about 500.  They came from all over the country, and in attendance were childhood friends, teachers, coaches, co-workers, fellow college students, neighbors, and new acquaintances.  Many tears were shed. 

Ian would be pleased that others have benefited from his life.  We hope that his ability to donate parts of himself bring everlasting joy to the recipients and that they too can enjoy their life to the fullest as he did every day.

“Herman was a husband for 51 years, a father to our daughter Wendy but his blessing from God was that 30 years ago he received a heart transplant here in Austin thru Seton Heart Transplant Program. After receiving the transplant, he donated his heart valves.Read More

My son Jared Butler was killed in a motorcycle accident on November 14. We donated all his organs (eyes skin and tissue) to those who needed them. Jared was always helping other people no matter how small or big the problem was. His friends called him the Rebel. He loved riding motorcycles, riding horses, playing disc golf, and being around those he loved. He had one daughter whom he loved her dearly. He had an older brother. He loved his mother, She was always there for him. We bless the person who receives sight and his organs. Jared was loved by so many.