SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--When devoted teacher and Rotarian Heidi Zimmer passed away at age 39 after two years of battling cancer, her family found solace in the news that her corneas could restore sight to others. Heidi’s donation of corneal tissue transformed the lives of two women in their 30s, and the gift continues to comfort her parents, sister and 19-year-old son.
SightLife, steward of Heidi’s sight-restoring gift and the world’s largest provider of corneal tissue for transplant, has partnered with Donate Life America to honor Heidi for her donation. Float artisans have created a “floragraph” (floral portrait) of Heidi that will join 80 others depicting organ and tissue donors on the 2015 Donate Life Rose Parade Float. Sponsored by SightLife, the Zimmer family will travel from their home in Santa Rosa, Calif., to Pasadena to meet other donor families and transplant recipients and watch the parade live on New Year’s Day.
Heidi Zimmer earned her bachelor’s degree at Sonoma State University and her master’s in teaching at Dominican University of California. She taught math at middle and high schools in the Santa Rosa area. At Rincon Valley Middle School, Heidi established the Interact Club – a student version of Rotary—and the club grew to 50 members. Heidi also helped to found the Evening Rotary Club of Santa Rosa and was an active member. Her fellow Rotarians recently hosted the 2nd Annual Heidi Zimmer Memorial Rotary Foundation Chili Cook Off in her honor.
“It was extremely uplifting to learn a part of her body could be used for donation,” said Heidi’s mother, Barbara Zimmer. “Giving someone sight is very rewarding. Donation has been a positive experience for our family.”
About SightLife
Founded in 1969, SightLife is the only non-profit global health organization and eye bank solely focused on eliminating corneal blindness in the U.S. and around the world. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, the organization leverages innovative technologies and best business practices to transform lives and unlock life’s possibilities for the corneal blind. SightLife works in partnership with surgeons and health organizations in 29 countries. For more information, visit www.SightLife.org.
