'The greatest gift': Suffolk man's plea after experiencing both sides of organ donation
Ben Cronin received a cornea transplant 15 years after donating his father's, as thousands remain on the waiting list for sight-saving surgery.
A Suffolk man who received a cornea transplant 15 years after donating his father's corneas is urging families to discuss organ donation, as thousands of people across England wait for sight-saving surgery.
Ben Cronin, 34, from Wrentham, says more people need to understand the difference tissue donation can make, having experienced both sides of the process.
His appeal comes as NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) estimates approximately 3,500 people in England are waiting for a cornea transplant, with demand continuing to exceed the number of donations available.
NHSBT reveals that its eye banks are 21% below the level needed supply hospitals. It's calling on more people to agree to donate their sight to meet the growing demand for corneas in the ageing population.
As of September 29th, there were 278 corneas in NHSBT’s eye banks, which are in Manchester and Bristol. We aim to have 350 corneas in these banks at any one time to supply to hospitals for patients.
NHS Blood and Transplant needs 70 donations a week to meet the demand for sight saving transplants but there is a regular shortfall in donations. The shortage of donors leads to patients waiting longer for transplants.
More information on this, can be found here.
Bens Story
Ben underwent surgery after his eyesight deteriorated because of keratoconus, a condition affecting the shape of the cornea, which caused significant problems with his vision.
But his connection to cornea donation began long before he needed a transplant himself.
In 2011, when Ben was just 17, his father died from sepsis. Ben and his mother agreed to donate his father's corneas after learning he was too unwell to donate other organs.
Speaking to us, Ben said his family had always discussed organ donation, meaning they knew what his father would have wanted.
"For us as a family, it's a definite yes, it's helping someone else. It's the most selfless thing you can do.
"So thankfully, as a family, we had all had that discussion. We knew what dad's wishes were."
Ben has since discovered that his father's donation helped two women in their 50s and 60s.
"We had a letter from NHS Blood and Transplant who were able to track back to when he donated and we found that two ladies in their 50s and 60s both received corneas and were able to carry on with their lives, which makes a devastating loss a little bit easier," he said.
Why more donors are needed
According to NHSBT, awareness of cornea donation remains low, despite its potential to transform people's lives.
Research cited by the organisation found just 35% of people surveyed knew cornea donation was an option on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
However, 61% said they would be willing to donate their corneas once they knew it was possible.
Unlike some other forms of donation, certain medical conditions, poor eyesight and older age do not automatically prevent someone from becoming a cornea donor.
Ben's father was unable to donate solid organs because of his illness, but his corneas were suitable for donation.
Ben hopes his family's experience will encourage others to learn more about the process and discuss their wishes.
"People need to see the reality of cornea donation, which is why I am now documenting and sharing my experience," he said.
"Hopefully me sharing my experience means someone who didn't know about cornea donation before, might consider it now."
Anthony Clarkson, NHSBT Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, said thousands of patients remained in need of transplants.
"We know that the majority of people would be willing to donate their corneas, but there are currently still thousands of people waiting for a cornea transplant."
NHSBT is calling for one million new people to confirm their organ donation decisions, including cornea donation, on the NHS Organ Donor Register this year.
'It got to the stage where I just got depressed'
Ben was diagnosed with keratoconus in 2012, a year after his father's death.
The condition causes the cornea, the clear outer layer at the front of the eye, to become thinner and change shape, distorting vision.
He first noticed problems while studying forensic science at university, where he struggled to use microscopes, and subsequently changed his degree pathway to psychology.
In 2021, Ben underwent corneal cross-linking, a procedure intended to slow the condition's progression.
Although the treatment stabilised his right eye, his left continued to deteriorate.
He told us the effects extended far beyond his eyesight, leaving him struggling with everyday tasks including travelling, recognising people and reading food packaging.
On one occasion, Ben said he narrowly avoided being hit by a heavy goods vehicle while crossing a road in Norwich.
"What I thought was a car was about 100 metres away in the dark turned out to actually be a heavy goods vehicle about 10 metres away," he recalled.
"That was terrifying."
Ben also described being hospitalised after struggling to read food ingredients because of his visual impairment, which posed additional risks due to a severe allergy.
The loss of independence affected his mental health.
"It got to the stage where I just got depressed, I'll be honest," he said.
He was placed on the transplant waiting list in March 2025 and waited around 15 months before a donor cornea became available.
'It's the greatest gift I could have received'
Ben is now recovering from surgery and hopes his eyesight will continue to improve over the coming year.
In a statement issued through NHSBT, he said he had already noticed some changes.
"My vision will change for the next year as my eye heals, but already I am seeing clearer outlines of objects and less ghosting and shadowing.
"It's the greatest gift I could have received, and I wish I could thank my donor's family. I know what it's like to be on the other side, as I was there when my dad died and my family was approached about cornea donation."
His mother, Pam, has also expressed her gratitude to the donor's family.
"Hopefully it will widen your world and enable you to do things that you've had to give up or that you've never been able to do," she said.
"I'm so grateful for whoever donated and the family and I'm so pleased it's been done for you."
Ben hopes the transplant will eventually allow him to return to university and pursue his ambition of becoming a specialist nurse in organ donation.
Encouraging families to have the conversation
For Ben, one of the most important lessons from his experience is the value of discussing organ and tissue donation before a family is faced with making decisions following a death.
His family already knew his father's wishes when they were approached about donation in 2011.
He believes those conversations can help families understand what their loved ones would want.
Now, having received a donated cornea himself, Ben is sharing video diaries of his recovery in the hope of encouraging others to consider donation.
NHSBT says families are always involved in donation discussions and that recording a decision and telling loved ones can make the process easier.
People can record their wishes through the NHS Organ Donor Register or the NHS app.