I Wasn’t Blind, but Now I See

I went to the optometrist in early December for a routine eye exam…

Like many previous visits, I had no suspicions that anything could be wrong. The doctor, however, came back with some very different news.

A scan of my retina revealed a lesion; my retina was detaching from the back of my eye, causing Macular Degeneration. I had zero vision issues and no symptoms. I was shocked, to say the least. 

After my appointment, I went home and started a research frenzy: “Patients living with Macular Degeneration will become blind in 5-10 years after their vision is impacted.” I was at a loss for words.

How much would I miss out on?

Would I be able to “see” my grandkids graduate high school?

Would I “see” them get married? 

My initial reaction was to pray. After my wife and I told our family and friends, we prayed relentlessly with them, asked for the prayer team after service to intercede for us, and spent time with the Lord meditating on my circumstances.

I felt completely at peace, which was odd given the predicted outcome.

Our daughter, a nurse, suggested we try Cleveland Clinic. She had heard success stories of Macular Degeneration patients who sought a second opinion there, so why not give it a try? The “success” was simply the prevention of the degeneration, but I was ready to try anything to help delay the blindness. 

At Cleveland Clinic, they repeated the same scan that had previously revealed my diagnosis. When the ophthalmologist returned, I was in utter shock again: There were no lesions on my retinas. I explained the Macular Degeneration diagnosis I had previously received, and he showed me that my scan was free of any lesions. 

Unless I needed more peace of mind, there was no reason to come back for a follow-up.

He sent me on my way, and I returned home. 

As a practicing veterinarian for 30 years, I have a thorough understanding of how the anatomy of the eye works. When I saw the scan from my first appointment, I recognized the lesions and discoloration that indicated Macular Degeneration. There is no doubt that I was diagnosed correctly: Our prayers were answered, and I was healed.

In the waiting time between my first and second exams, one of the verses I heavily focused on was Mark 11:24, which reads,

“Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

That period of relentless prayer led me to have complete faith in God’s healing and grace. I didn’t understand why I felt so at peace at the time until I received my answer.

I realized that healing is a gift Jesus earned for us when He gave His life on the cross, bearing the weight of all our pain. The only way to activate it is to simply trust. Believe it, and you will receive it.

I may not have been blind, but now I see. 

Do you feel your story can serve as a hope and inspiration to others? Share your story at mystory@radiant.church.