(HOBOKEN, NJ) — In 2012, when he was just 15 years old, Brian Mansfield was struggling with a rare eye infection that left him in severe pain and unable to tolerate sunlight. Today, at 30, the Hoboken resident has built a successful career in accounting and finance and shares his experience as a corneal transplant recipient and NJ Sharing Network volunteer to help others understand the impact of organ, eye, and tissue donation.
“I know how fortunate I am to have received a corneal transplant, and I never take that for granted,” said Mansfield. “I’m happy to share my story because I want people to understand the difference donation can make in someone’s life. Knowing that someone else’s gift gave me the opportunity to see clearly and move forward with my life is something I will always be grateful for.”
Mansfield, who grew up in New Providence, developed Acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare infection that damaged his cornea, the clear tissue at the front of the eye. For months, he endured severe pain and extreme sensitivity to light, spending much of his time in his parents’ basement with the windows covered. After months of treatment, he underwent a corneal transplant on Dec. 11, 2012, at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital’s Harkness Eye Institute.
Recovery took time, but Mansfield gradually regained his ability to read, spend time outdoors and resume everyday activities. During his illness, he worked hard to keep up with school, completing his high school junior-year curriculum in a shortened period with support from teachers and tutors. He went on to graduate from New Providence High School and the University of Richmond and earn his CPA certification before pursuing a career in accounting and finance.
“After spending so many months in pain and avoiding light, being able to step outside in the sun again was incredible,” Mansfield recalled. “It gave me a new appreciation for the everyday things many people take for granted. Being able to enjoy those simple moments with my family and friends reminded me how much of life I had been missing.”
Mansfield’s connection with NJ Sharing Network began while he was still in high school, when he received a scholarship from the organization. About six months after his transplant, he also began participating in NJ Sharing Network’s annual 5K Celebration of Life Walk and USATF-sanctioned race. Through his involvement, he has met fellow transplant recipients and donor families whose stories have deepened his appreciation for the generosity behind donation.
“Meeting donor families and hearing their stories made a lasting impression on me,” said Mansfield. “Even in the midst of tremendous loss, they found meaning in knowing their loved ones had helped others. Their stories have stayed with me, and I’m grateful that sharing my own experience has encouraged many of my friends to register as donors, too.”
November is Eye Donation Month, which raises awareness about corneal donation and transplantation, honoring the gift of sight given by selfless donors and their families, celebrating corneal transplant recipients, educating about eye donation, and encouraging individuals to register as donors.
According to Eversight, a nonprofit eye bank that partners with NJ Sharing Network to serve eye donors in the state, a cornea transplant is a surgical procedure that replaces a damaged or diseased cornea with healthy donated tissue. Corneal transplantation is a well-established procedure that can successfully restore or improve vision for many patients. Anyone may be eligible to donate their corneas regardless of age or medical condition. If corneal tissue is not transplantable, the donation can, with authorization, be considered a gift for education and research involving glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and other sight disorders. These studies advance the knowledge of causes and effects of blinding eye conditions and lead to new treatments and cures.
For more information, or to register as an organ, eye, and tissue donor, visit NJ Sharing Network’s website at www.NJSharingNetwork.org.
PHOTO CAPTION #1 – 2026: Hoboken resident Brian Mansfield, who received a corneal transplant when he was a teenager, shares his story to raise awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation. (Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJ Sharing Network)
PHOTO CAPTION #2 – 2026: Brian Mansfield, a corneal transplant recipient and NJ Sharing Network volunteer, helps raise awareness about the impact of organ, eye, and tissue donation. (Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJ Sharing Network)
PHOTO CAPTION #3 – Archive photo (2014): Brian Mansfield accepted a scholarship from NJ Sharing Network while he was a student at New Providence High School. (Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJ Sharing Network).