My family has a history of macular degeneration on both sides, so I’ve always been proactive about telling my eye doctor about my history. But in the back of my mind, I thought I’d be terrified if I ever received that diagnosis, but to my amazement, when that day came, I was completely at peace. Deep in my spirit, I sensed the Holy Spirit saying it would be all right.

I didn’t tell anyone about my diagnosis except my husband and my family, wanting them to be proactive about telling their eye doctors about the family history as well. Then I went on with my life, taking the eye vitamins my doctor recommended.

A short time later, a member of our small group called me. Donn picked up the phone (I was in the other room), but couldn’t read the Caller ID without his glasses, so he didn’t answer until Janet started leaving a message. When he handed me the phone, I explained to my friend that he hadn’t answered sooner because he couldn’t read her name on our Caller ID without his glasses.

Immediately, she began to tell me about her family history of macular degeneration and the remedies she was using to protect herself–Eye Promise vitamins and Aroniaberry juice which is loaded with antioxidents. I listened in awe since Janet didn’t know my history or my diagnosis. She had no idea that I’d been praying about what I should do.

When she finished, I told her about my family history and that I’d been told I was in the early stages of macular degeneration. Then I asked if she could send me information about the Aroniaberry juice.

After reading about the very positive results people were having with the juice, their macular degeneration even improving which is supposed to be impossible, I decided to begin using it too. In addition, the eye vitamins from my eye doctor didn’t agree with me, so I switched to the Eye Promise ones Janet had told me about.

Six months ago, I saw a different eye doctor at the same practice. After looking at all the new test results, he said, “I would say you are at risk for macular degeneration.” That was very good news since my previous diagnosis had been that I was in the early stages.

At my last eye doctor visit, I saw yet another eye doctor at the same practice (I think perhaps my eye doctor, nearing retirement age, is selling his practice). Again, they did all the same tests. When this eye doctor came in to talk to me, she looked at all my results, then said, “Are you taking vitamins?”

When I told her what I was taking, including the Aroniaberry Juice, she closed my folder, smiled and said, “Keep doing what you’re doing.”  I gathered that my tests didn’t show any changes in my vision since my visit six months before and she was giving credit to me taking vitamins.

In addition, the Amsler macular degeneration grid taped to my mirror hasn’t changed at all since I began looking at it every Monday at the time of my first diagnosis. My vision continues to be good.

As I look back on this journey thus far, I’m still in awe of how God used my friend, who had no knowledge of my diagnosis, to point me in the right direction. (She had learned about Aroniaberry juice when they toured a grape farm and had decided to try it because of her family history.)

How wonderful that God can use us as His instruments without us even realizing it and that we can benefit by God using others in our lives without understanding His mysterious ways! All glory to Jesus!

God moves in a mysterious ways

His wonders to perform;

He plants His footsteps in the sea.

And rides upon the storm.

William Cowper