In January 2023, at the age of 35, I was diagnosed with Coats’ Disease. It slipped into my life unnoticed, dimming the vision in my left eye and casting a shadow over every part of my world. During this time, I was serving as a police officer with nearly a decade of service—a career where physical fitness isn’t just a requirement, but the heartbeat of the job. When my vision fell short of the standard, I wasn’t just losing my sight; I was forced to retire, leaving behind a calling I loved.

The medical journey has been relentless. I’ve endured numerous in-office surgeries, countless injections, a more invasive hospital procedure, and, most recently, cataract surgery. All of which had stretched me thin—surgery's, medications, lifestyle adjustments, and a new reality for my wife and two children have turned our lives upside down. What once was a steady path has become a mountain to climb.

The impact reaches far beyond my body. The psychological weight of this disease has pressed down just as heavily as the physical symptoms. My wife and children have also borne their own silent struggles, watching me battle this storm while their lives shifted beneath them. We’ve faced financial strains too—selling our home, uprooting the stability we’d built, and trading familiarity for survival. Yet necessity has also driven me forward.

To provide for my loved ones, I’ve invested in further education—a leap of faith filled with both hope and hardship. Every dollar spent is a gamble on a future as promising as it is uncertain, and the pressure of supporting my family still looms. But through this darkness, I’ve found unshakable light. My family’s love has been a steady anchor—standing with me through surgeries, treatments, and the long road of recovery. Their sacrifices often go unseen, yet they are the pillars holding me up. Even more, this journey has drawn me closer to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He has lifted my burdens and given me rest when fear and doubt threatened to swallow me whole. Without His grace, I would have been lost. I pray that all who read this will open their hearts to Him and receive His free gift of salvation. All glory belongs to Him. As I walk this uncertain road, I’m reminded daily of God’s sovereignty.

Coats’ Disease may have clouded my vision and altered my course, but it has also opened my eyes to strengths I never knew I had, to the boundless love of my family, and to the glory of Christ. The path ahead may be unclear, but it’s paved with the promise of new beginnings and the courage to face whatever lies next. Each day, I choose to trust in Him, to lean on my family’s unwavering support, and to praise the Lord who carries me through. To Him be the glory forever.