AJ Perez Brings Sight to 8-Year Old Boy

The late actor Antonello Joseph "AJ" Sarte Perez may have died young but his death has brought new life to 2 people after they were gifted with his corneas.



On Friday, 8-year-old Daniel delos Santos said he could now see faces instead of colors after a corneal transplant was performed on his right eye on the same day that Perez was buried.



"Nakakakita na po ako ngayon, pero mas malinaw na po ang paningin ko. Dati noong hindi pa ako inooperahan puro kulay lang po ang nakikita ko hindi po mukha," Santos told ABS-CBN's morning show "Umagang Kay Ganda."



Santos still wears protective eyeglasses to avoid complications.



The boy said that aside from seeing faces clearly, the actor's donation really helps him in school.



"Dati po kapag nagsulat ako nahihirapan ako, ngayon noong inoperahan ko mas madali na," Santos said.



When asked to give his message for Perez, Santos replied: "Salamat dahil dinonate niya ang cornea (sa akin)."



Like him, Santos also hopes that people suffering from eye problems would also get help and donations.



"Sana ma-donate-an sila ng cornea," the boy said.



Aside from Santos, Lawrence Villanueva, 28, received the left cornea of Perez who died in a vehicular accident last April. He was 18. (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/entertainment/04/16/11/actor-aj-perez-killed-...)



After the actor's death, his parents decided to donate his corneas. They said their son may not be physically present anymore but a part of his life has continued to help and change lives of other people.