Jim Rook
Jim is a skilled nature photographer. He suffered from Fuch’s Dystrophy, which causes the eyes to retain fluid and one's vision to become cloudy; thus making it extremely difficult to photograph in nature.
His eye doctor discovered the condition during a routine eye exam in 2016. About a year later, his condition had progressed much more rapidly than expected; and he was referred to a cornea surgeon. A few weeks later, he underwent cornea transplant surgery in his right eye on July 11, 2017. “It went very well. I was out photographing just 11 days after surgery.”
He received a donated cornea in his left eye six weeks later. It was a little slower to respond and heal, but things are going well now.
“It is hard to put into words how grateful I am. I am so appreciative of the donors and their families. They are such a god-send.”
Jim has 5 children and 9 grandchildren and lives near Alexandria, Minnesota. “Everybody is healthy. Life is good.”