Goharik’s Story

Nature Gave Her Many Talents

In 1983 a girl named Goharik was born in Yerevan, Armenia. Nature was generous to the child and gave her many talents. It turned out however, that there had to be something to be taken from her in return, something equally precious as the gifts she received. At the maternity hospital, Goharik was infected with UVEIT, an eye disease that causes repeated glaucoma.

It was not until she turned three years of age that Goharik was diagnosed with UVEIT. Since then, permanent medical control, treatment, checkups and nerve-racking surgeries have been a major part of her life. The little girl faced it with valiance and optimism and never let the ordeal consume her. She had a good memory and was very capable, and she did very well at school (her mother read her the assignments), leaving it with honors.

Throughout these years, she underwent six surgeries in Moscow to reduce the eye pressure. The last surgery was unsuccessful. The right eye, that saw better than the left one, almost stopped seeing, and the eye pressure was going high again.

Was it a strike of fortune or an anticipated reward for keeping the faith that US ophthalmologists Rick Hall and Rodger Ohanesian arrived in Yerevan just at the time everyone thought Goharik had no chances left? Rick performed the operation brilliantly, the eye pressure normalized, and she no longer faces the risk of going blind. She still does not see well, but she knows that there will be a cure for her, just the way she knew that there were excellent specialists and dedicated people who came to help her when she needed it most.

One of the precious gifts that nature bestowed on Goharik is a beautiful voice (lyrical-dramatic soprano). She is now in her third year at Yerevan State Conservatory. The life of one of the most talented vocalist students is full of studies and concerts, tenacious and relentless work and gratifying moments of generously sharing her gift with other people.

She has so much to share, this girl. She faced her challenge with grace and calm confidence that fortune has much more in store for her, because otherwise it would not have sent her the doctors that saved her from going blind.

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 Roger Ohanesian and Rick Hill 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 AECP 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.
Goharik