This I Believe

Einstein once said “Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind.”

I got my BS degree from UNCW and was teaching biology labs at Coastal Community College when I found out I was expecting a girl in September. I was arrogant. I thought I knew everything about genetics and biology, so I avoided every kind of mutagen I knew of. I even held my breath as cars passed me on my daily run. Amelia Lynn was born at Carteret General Hospital September 14 2008 after an uneventful pregnancy. “Isn’t she a genetic success!” I yelled gleefully to the nurse as she examined my brand new baby girl. When I first held her, I noticed her eyes were cloudy. I thought it was the silver nitrate put in at delivery. The nurse told me they did not put anything in her eyes. She was taken to the nursery for 2 hours before my doctor was sent to talk to me. I knew something was wrong. Dr. Majstorovich, our local olpthalmologist noted that her interocular pressure was high, so we were sent to Duke. Dr. Sharon Freedman of the Pediatric Eye Care center at Duke diagnosed Amelia with congenital glaucoma. “Will she be able to read?” I asked. “I don’t think she could read before.” Dr. Freedman said of my 3 day old infant. Over the months to follow, Dr. Freedman implanted an Ahmed valve in each eye and restored Amelia’s vision! My words are fruitless to describe how very greatful I am that Amelia can see. Whenever I tell Dr. Freedman how greatful I am she humbly points up. She says she believes in prayer. I have struggled to keep faith, but sometimes you pray for a quarter when God is handing you a twenty dollar bill. Amelia has allready given this biology major a big lesson in faith through Dr. Freedman, and this is only the begining.