Vivian Lefferts

Type of Donation:       corneas

Age and Location:      Age 66 – Canton, IL

Date of Donation:           01/31/2023

Sponsor:                      Honored by OneLegacy

VIVIAN’S STORY

Vivian Lefferts lived her life with a heart full of passion, purpose, and devotion. Everyone who knew her felt the warmth of her presence and the strength of her spirit. Above all else, her greatest joy came from her family, especially her children and grandchildren. She and her husband, Larry, poured their hearts into raising their two children, John and Eleanor, creating a home filled with love, laughter, and devotion.

In 2004, tragedy struck when their beloved son John died unexpectedly from an aortic dissection. Even in their grief, John's spirit lived on. His gift of corneas, bones, and tissues touched 37 lives across the nation. For Vivian and Larry, promoting organ and tissue donation became a way to channel their sorrow into hope, helping others the way John had helped so many.

One of the highlights of Vivian's life came on January 1, 2013, when she was sponsored by Gift of Hope in Illinois to ride on the Donate Life Rose Parade Float. She called it "the ride of a lifetime," a moment filled with both pride and healing. For the next seven years, Vivian and Larry served on the Float Committee as part of the transportation team, dedicating themselves to making sure every Float Class felt the same sense of honor and comfort she had experienced.

In January 2023, another tragedy struck. After undergoing hip surgery, Vivian's failing gallbladder and liver went undetected, their pain masked by post-surgery medications. She passed away far too soon, leaving a hole in the hearts of all who loved her. In her final act of generosity, Vivian donated her corneas through Eversight, bringing the gift of sight to others. For her family, it was deeply comforting to know that after years of championing the cause of donation, she herself became a donor, leaving a final legacy of love and giving.