Gift Of Sight: Tiffany Aue

You may recall last December when HealthBeat helped announce an amazing gift by a Sioux Falls optometric practice. The doctors and staff involved wanted to donate free laser vision correction as their way of giving back.

After spending hours reviewing nearly two hundred letters from all across KELOLAND, Dr. Vance Thompson and Dr. Alison Tendler and their staff at Sanford Vance Thompson Vision clinic have finally come up with four people who have been chosen to receive a Gift of Sight.

The free laser vision correction, which literally takes minutes, is schedule to be performed on three of the four late Thursday afternoon. Both doctors and all of the clinic's staff have agreed to donate their time so that the patients won't have to pay a thing for the procedure, which can cost around five thousand dollars. But choosing those who would benefit wasn't easy by any means.

Dr. Alison Tendler says, "It kind of gives incentive to the rest of us, you know, that this happens out there and these people have overcome all these difficulties in their lives and they're still thriving. Yet we're able to offer something that is kind of still a blessing to them, but a blessing to us at the same time."

Among the stories that stood out--that of Tiffany Aue.

Almost six years ago, the light in Tiffany Aue's eyes nearly went out when her husband, Jeff, died suddenly from cancer.

Tiffany's sister, Amie Fick says, "You know people can go either direction with those kinds of things--in these situations, you can grow from them or they can destroy you."

Married just two years, her son was then just 14 months old. Tiffany also had a 13-year-old daughter to raise--alone.

Fick says, "She was someone who grew in strength and wisdom."

Tiffany Aue spent the past six years sacrificing for her family and rarely thinking of herself.

Aue says, "My kids are real important to me. They're so special and they've gone through a lot of things, too. And I know there'll be a time for me that's not that far away."

But tucked away in tax refunds and a meager savings account was a dream that one day she would be able to shed the specs she'd been wearing since she'd graduated from high school.

Aue says, " It was--the thought just began to grow in me more and more... I really need to get this done."

Only there always seemed to be something more important than the luxury of laser vision correction.

Fick says," I know that this was something she's always wanted to do, but couldn't afford it."

Tiffany did what she always did, she continued to sacrifice.

Aue says, "It was always good things. My daughter had opportunities to go on mission trips and most recently she had the opportunity to do an internship with the organization that did her mission trips."

Fick says, "I really appreciate that she always put everyone else first in her life."

Only thanks to her sister's surprise nomination, this time Tiffany will come first. And the things she is looking forward to are proof she still has that light in her eyes.

Aue says, "Watching my son do different things, running a distance away from me and still being able to keep my eye on him, and just enjoying everything around me more."

To watch KeloLand video of Tiffany's interview and procedure, click here.

Jaine Andrews, KeloLand TV.