Tragedy Gives Musician Gift of Sight

June 27, 2007 — -- Music has always been Andre Jones heart and soul, even when he started losing his sight as a teen.

"I can't think of anything else that I have to have every single day," Jones said of his passion for music.

His talent as a singer and musician flourished, while his sight slowly deteriorated. Jones has keratoconus, a common eye disease in which the cornea begins to bulge, causing distorted vision.

Jones' vision loss began to affect his ability to play instruments.

" I had to lean like all the way over like when my nose was touching the keyboard," he said.

By the age of 28, Jones could see only as far as his own hand. Legally blind, he could no longer read or drive.

Dr. Vincent Verdi, an ophthalmologist from Norfolk, Va., told him his disease was one of the worst cases he'd ever seen of keratoconus. There was a glimmer of hope -- a cornea transplant could allow Jones to see again.

One Saturday night in May, 17-year-old best friends Tessa Tranchant and Alison Kunhardt were stopped at a traffic light and were hit by an alleged drunken driver, who was an illegal immigrant.

The Virginia Beach girls were killed instantly. The tragedy made national news and fueled a fiery debate over immigration laws.

It also left the girls' parents mourning the loss of their daughters.

"When there was a sleepover they were like sisters," said Alison's dad, Dave Kunhardt. "They literally were almost hugging each other every time they went to bed."

On the other side of town, Jones got a call that he described as a bittersweet miracle. His ophthalmologist told Jones a cornea was available to him. The donor was Alison Kunhardt.

"When I learned that I was the recipient of a cornea, you know, of a young person that lost a life, I was hurt," Jones said. "It was the cornea of somebody who was snatched off the face of the earth. My first concern was the family."

Heartened by the generous donation and the chance to see again, Jones underwent a 45-minute transplant in his left eye. The next day, he had an unforgettable moment in his doctor's office.