The Story of Tamara Conkle
Tamara Conkle is a sixth-generation horse trainer who works on her family farm in Dade City, Florida. On her birthday, her right eye started burning. She took her contacts out and put on her glasses, thinking her eyes needed a rest. Unfortunately, two days later she could not see anything out of that eye.
Tamara Conkle after her cornea transplant surgery.
Tamara’s father had lost his eye from a work-related injury, so she knew she had to see someone as soon as possible. She visited Dr. Mahootchi’s office in Zephyrhills and he determined that she had a fungal infection. Dr. Mahootchi prescribed some eye drops, which cleared the infection, but her cornea was already damaged. Cornea transplant surgery was her only option.
Tamara worried that she would have to sell off some of her cattle, her means of income, to pay for the transplant surgery. Fortunately, she was connected with the Dade City Lions Club who offered to help. The Lions Club contacted Lions Eye Institute and we decided to enroll Tamara in our Gratis Ocular Tissue Program, providing her corneal tissue at no cost.
Dr. Ahad Mahootchi of the Eye Clinic of Florida in Zephyrhills performed
Tamara's surgery.
“It’s life-changing. I’m a person who always says, ‘Do what you can today ‘cause you don’t know what tomorrow brings.’ This has been like a brand new life.”
- Tamara Conkle, Gratis Tissue Recipient
Tamara feels like she was given a second chance. She is grateful that she can return to doing the things she loves, being outside and taking care of her horses.
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