Honoring My Father’s Legacy During Eye Donor Awareness Month

By Rajesh Karnani of Paramus, NJ
Eye Donor Awareness Month in November has become a special time of year for me and my family, as we remember my father, Sham C. Karnani, and his amazing legacy. My father unexpectedly passed away on March 17, 2010, from heart complications. However, in his passing, he gave a selfless gift that lives on. Thanks to NJ Sharing Network and Eversight, my father’s donated corneas restored sight for two individuals in need.

My father was born in India and immigrated to the United States in the 1970s to build a better future for our family. An importer by trade, he built his career in New York but never lost sight of his true calling: helping others. His approach to life was simple - those of us fortunate enough to live a good life should strive to help others do the same. For him, organ, eye, and tissue donation was a powerful way to fulfill this purpose. He would often say, “We can’t take our organs on our journey to heaven, so why not help others complete their journey here on Earth?”

His wisdom has remained with me, guiding me to continue his mission. NJ Sharing Network helps keep my father’s spirit alive through their events and initiatives. I am grateful to volunteer with them, working to inspire others to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors. Just one donor can save up to eight lives and enhance over 75 others. And many people aren’t aware that cornea donation is one of the most common forms of tissue donation, helping restore sight to more than 85,000 people each year in the United States, according to the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA).

Losing my father has been painful, and I still sometimes find myself waiting for him to walk through the door, hear his voice, or see his smile. But knowing that his legacy lives on through the sight he restored for others has brought solace to our family. The gift of vision, of possibility, is a fitting tribute to a man whose life was dedicated to seeing and fulfilling the needs of others. His passion for donation is now mine, and it is my greatest hope that others will consider joining this lifesaving mission and help change lives - just as my father did.

PHOTO: Rajesh Karnani of Paramus holding a photo of his father, Sham C. Karnani (Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJ Sharing Network)