Mohan's Story

In his second year of pre-med at the University of Manitoba, Mohan noticed that his vision was a bit blurred. Shortly after, he was diagnosed with keratoconus, an eye condition in which the cornea becomes thinner and cone-shaped, impairing vision. Unsure of how much of his vision he would lose, Mohan decided to switch career paths from medicine to business. Recalling how uncertain he felt about his future, he said: “Because there was no permanent solution at the time…when it’s happening, you’re in a state of emotional distress. You don’t know what the future is going to look like.”

Although his career change was heartbreaking at the time, Mohan’s corneal transplants would gift him the life he always hoped to live.

After completing his MBA, Mohan was open about his vision with future employers and was hired at IBM in Toronto. Several years later, his eyesight had deteriorated to the point where he couldn’t read the words on a page or see what was on the computer screen. He could manage with a hard contact lens in his right eye, but standard treatments were not working for his left eye. He had gotten married and had a young son, and was devastated that he might not be able to see them clearly again. As the primary breadwinner at the time, Mohan was also tormented at the thought that he might not be able to support his family the way he wanted. He was hesitant when his doctor suggested a corneal transplant because he wasn’t sure what would happen if it didn’t work. He spoke with another patient who had received a transplant, and felt better when his doctor told him they could try the surgery again if it was unsuccessful.

Mohan had a left corneal tissue transplant from a deceased donor in 1970, and when the hard contact lens in his right eye was no longer effective, he had a corneal transplant in his right eye in 1998. He went on to have a successful career at IBM for over 40 years, advancing to a Program Director role where he managed large, international projects. He and his wife had another child—a daughter—and he was able to watch his kids grow up. His son now has two children of his own, and Mohan loves being a grandfather. He can’t imagine what his life would look like if he hadn’t received his transplant, and Mohan is incredibly grateful for what he has been able to do as a result of it: “I have been able to appreciate my kids, my wife, grandkids, travel, nature…I was able to help provide a good life for my family.”

After he retired, Mohan and a small group of other organ recipients founded the Scarborough Gift of Life Association, an advocacy group that promotes organ and tissue donation by volunteering at information booths, and by speaking at events and panel discussions about donation. He has been a passionate advocate for more than 10 years, and in that time, received another corneal transplant in his right eye in 2016.

Mohan is so thankful for the support he received throughout this journey: “I am thankful I could lean on God’s grace…and I am incredibly grateful to my doctors, Dr. W. Dixon and Dr. H. Chew, for their skill and kindness…and for my wife and my family for their love and support.” And when he thinks about his donors, Mohan is overwhelmed with the spirit of community: “Volunteering is the least I could do in terms of giving back…there were three different donors who gave me three different tissues at different points in time. None of what I have done in my life would have been possible without the sight that they gave me. I am eternally grateful.”