“You were the last person to touch my Jennie,” Pam Thurman said, pulling University of Illinois-Chicago researcher Dr. Ali Djalilian in for a tearful embrace. Pam and her family drove from their home in Battle Creek, Michigan, to Eversight Illinois to share her daughter’s unique donation story.

Born with cystic fibrosis, Jennie spent her life contributing to research projects to study the antiviral medications that added years to her life. “You have to crawl before you can walk,” she would tell her family, and she hoped her support of research would help other CF patients live longer, healthier lives.

Jennie passed away in 2012, surrounded by 36 family members and loved ones singing “Amazing Grace.” Before she died, Jennie expressed a desire to donate her tissue so that her life’s work would continue. When Pam received the call from Eversight Michigan telling her Jennie was a candidate for research donation, she was deeply comforted to know her daughter’s legacy would carry on.

“It wasn’t just one person she was going to touch with those eyes, it was thousands,” Pam said. “She would have loved that.”

Jennie’s gift of corneal tissue was given to Dr. Djalian to support his research into the applications for limbal stem cells to regenerate damaged corneal tissue. The project, which has received funding from the Department of Defense, will allow a single donated cornea to restore sight to several people and improve patient outcomes.

“This research, which will change the lives of thousands of individuals, is only possible because people like Jennie give this incredible gift,” said Gregory Grossman, Ph.D., Director of Research Programs at Eversight.

The meeting between Jennie’s family and Dr. Djalilian was the first of its kind for an Eversight donor family, and has motivated Eversight to design a program that connects donor families with the researchers who use their gift. This program will provide information to families about the type of research their loved one’s tissue is being used to support and facilitate correspondence and face-to-face meetings between researchers and donor families.

“Making the connection between donor families and researchers can provide a source of healing and pride to families who experience the loss of a loved one and help researchers gain a deeper understanding of the people who give the gifts that make their work possible,” said Alex Teska, Eversight Michigan Community Relations Liaison.

For Jennie’s family members, who have become champions of donation and research in her memory, the meeting was cathartic.

“We’re all so proud of Jennie and everything she did in her life and beyond,” said Colleen Austin, Jennie’s grandmother. “To be here and see the impact Jennie is making is simply amazing.”