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 Patient
Stories
She
has talent, acheivements
and aspirations
and
she has lived with
Glaucoma since
the age of three.
But her optimism
and her perseverance
have never let
her down. In her
own words:
“I
was
born
in
Yerevan,
Armenia, with many gifts,
so Nature must have decided
to take something away
in return. At age 3,
I was diagnosed with
Uveitis, an eye disease
that causes Glaucoma.
My life was filled with
surgeries, treatment,
and check-ups. Despite
the many operations and
the possibility that
I could go blind, I remained
optimistic. My mother
read my school assignments
to me, and I graduated
with honors.
“While
growing
up,
I
traveled to Moscow six
times for surgery to
reduce the pressure on
my eyes. The last surgery
was not successful. I
could barely see out
of my right eye and the
eye pressure continued
to increase.
“I
could
tell that
people
around me were giving
up hope. Yet, my faith
was rewarded when AECP
physicians Rick Hill
and Roger Ohanesian arrived
in Yerevan. Rick performed
a successful operation
and my eye pressure went
down. I no longer worry
about going blind. I
still don’t see very
well, but this doesn’t
worry me. Why? Because
I know there will be
a cure for me just like
I knew the AECP doctors
would help me when I
needed it the most.
“Although
Nature
did
take away the full use
of my eyes, it gave me
a singing voice. My favorite
activity is sharing my
vocal gift with others.
Rather than being afraid
of
what misfortunes I may
face, I am excited about
what life has in store
for me. Because the AECP
doctors saved me from
going blind, I know I
was meant to have a happy
life and a promising
future.”
And, a very promising
future Goharik has.
Following
her studies
at the Yerevan State
Conservatory, Goharik
continued her studies
in Moscow
and graduated
from the Vocal department
of the Conservatory with
high honors. She continued
her studies at the Conservatory
Graduate School and since
graduation she has been
in great demand—giving
concerts and entertaining
audiences
throughout the region.
At a r ecent concert, on the
evening of February 24, 2007,
a storm blanketed Yerevan with
snow. But the people still
came and
Goharik’s
gentle
voice
and
invigorating
nature
mesmerized
the
audience...
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filled
the Chamber Music Hall, waiting
for the appearance of Goharik
Nersisyan, Soprano. The
young lady, ushered
to the stage by
her concertmaster,
smiled graciously
and began with
“Ave Maria.”
Goharik’s gentle
voice and invigorating
nature mesmerized the
audience who became
more involved
and enchanted
with each piece. Closing
the evening with
a spiritual,
“They Scandalized
My Name,” Goharik
received a
standing ovation.
Goharik
was
to undergo
yet
another
surgery
on
her eyes
last
June
with
Rick
Hill
and
Roger Ohanesian planning to remove a Cataract on her right eye. She had hoped this
would keep her eye pressure down and improve her sight. Unfortunately, she developed
complications and the doctors have to wait because they don’t want to jeopardize
the sight so she awaits the right time for another surgery.
One
thing
is
certain,
Goharik’s
joy
in
sharing
her
vocal
gift
with
others and
her
inner
strength
insures
this
exceptional
young
woman
both
an
exciting professional
career and a successful personal life. Her letter to friends...
Dear
Friends,
I
was
born
in
Yerevan,
Armenia,
with
many
gifts,
so
Nature
must
have
decided
to
take
something
away
in
return.
At
age
3,
I
was
diagnosed
with
Uveitis,
an
eye
disease
that
causes glaucoma.
My
life
was
filled
with
surgeries,
treatment,
and
check-ups.
Despite
the
many
operations
and
the
possibility
that
I
could
go
blind,
I
remained
optimistic.
My
mother
read
my
school
assignments
to
me, and
I
graduated
with
honors.
While
growing
up,
I
traveled
to
Moscow
six
times
for
surgery
to
reduce
the
pressure
on
my
eyes.
The
last
surgery
was
not
successful.
I
could
barely
see
from
my
right
eye.
The eye
pressure
just
kept
going
up.
I
could
tell
that
many
people
around
me
were
giving
up
hope.
Yet,
my
faith
was
rewarded
when
AECP
physicians
Rick
Hill
and
Roger
Ohanesian
arrived
in
Yerevan.
Rick
performed
the
operation
successfully. My
eye
pressure
went
down
and
I
no
longer
worry
about
going
blind.
I
still
don’t
see
so
well,
but
this
doesn’t
worry
me
that
much.
Why?
Because
I
know
there
will
be a
cure
for
me
just
like
I
knew
that
dedicated
doctors
would
help
when
I
needed
it
the
most.
Although
Nature
did
take
away
the
full
use
of
my
eyes,
it
did
provide
me
with
a
singing
voice.
I
am
in
my
third
year
as
a
vocalist
student
at
Yerevan
State
Conservatory. My
life
is
filled
with
studies
and
concerts.
My
favorite
activity
is
sharing
my
vocal
gift
with
others.
I
plan
to
continue
to
share
this
gift
when
I
graduate.
Rather
than
being
afraid
of
what
other
misfortunes
I
may
face,
I
am
excited
about
what
life
has
in
store
for
me.
Because
the
AECP
doctors
saved
me
from
going
blind,
I
know I
was
meant
to
have
a
happy
life
and
a
promising
future.
Thank
you,
American
doctors
for
giving
me
—and
others
just
like
me,
help.
And
thank
you,
American
donors,
for
making
AECP possible
and
bringing
us
the
help
we
need.
Goharik
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Goharik:
Talented Singer
Diagnosed with
