Retired engineer Ambrose Field was amazed at the difference cornea transplants made to his life.
"The transformation was remarkable," says Ambrose, "I sat in the garden and not only could I see the flowers more clearly, I could even count the petals."
Ambrose, aged 85, and great-grandfather of three, had his first cornea transplant in 1998 after he was diagnosed with cataracts and wear and tear on the cornea which made reading extremely difficult. He had a second cornea transplant in 2001.
"After I had the second transplant I began to wonder about the people who had given me this gift."
Ambrose wrote letters of thanks to the families of the donors - whose details remain strictly confidential - and asked the donor co-ordinators to pass on his letters. Eventually he received a letter from the daughter-in-law of his first donor asking if they could meet, which they did.
"I just think it was a wonderful thing for the family to do," says Ambrose.
