Back to the Life She Loves: How Surgery Helped Restore One’s Patient’s Vision and Joy

Back to the Life She Loves:

How Surgery Helped Restore One’s Patient’s Vision and Joy

It felt like a miracle. I felt so blessed.

- Renae E.

For months, Renae couldn’t read a menu. Street signs were blurry. Even with glasses or a magnifier, words on a page were incomprehensible. She struggled with pain, missed steps she couldn’t see, and eventually couldn’t even apply her makeup. “I just knew something was wrong,” she said.

At first, she thought it might be cataracts. After frequent visits to the eye doctor and no clear answers, she was finally sent for an MRI. The results were unexpected and frightening. A slow-growing pituitary tumor was pressing behind her left eye and threatening her vision.

Looking back, Renae remembers how discouraging those eye exams had been. At one point, the doctor told her she only had light perception in her right eye and that there was little else that could be done.

She couldn’t believe the problem might be inside her brain and delayed sharing the news with her family until she knew more.

She was referred to Dr. Gabriel Flores-Milan, a skilled neurosurgeon from USF/Lakeland Regional Health, to discuss her options. The diagnosis came with the difficult news that her vision might stay the same after surgery, or it might worsen. There was also a small but real chance she could lose her sight completely.

But she remained calm, focused, and faithful.

“I will deal with the outcome when I come to it,” she told herself. Whether God healed her through surgery, or she faced new challenges ahead, she trusted the path forward.

Then, just days before the scheduled operation, a hurricane delayed the procedure. While the disruption could have added stress, she saw it as a sign to trust the timing. The surgery finally moved forward under Dr. Flores-Milan’s steady hands.

“God used Dr. Milan,” she said. “I believe He was with him that day.”

She is also grateful for Dr. Arjun Parasher of Tampa General Hospital, who partnered with Dr. Flores-Milan during surgery and cared for her closely during recovery.

She underwent a successfully minimally invasive surgery, where Dr. Flores-Milan was able to remove the tumor through her nose.

Just three days after surgery, she was able to read a book again.

Renae tried to read this letter from her mother's aunt before her surgery but was unable to see it correctly. Her daughter read it to her instead.

As she recovered, one song stayed with her: The Goodness of God. It played constantly in her head, especially during long nights when she couldn’t sleep. “It reminded me that I wasn’t alone.”

Her vision even returned to what it had been before the tumor. “It felt like a miracle,” she said. “I felt so blessed.”

She is now back to doing the things she loves most: homeschooling her children, reading her Bible, and reading sheet music to play the piano.

Today, she continues to take medication prescribed by her oncologist, but the dosage is decreasing. She’s grateful for each step of progress and for the exceptional care she received.

“Dr. Flores-Milan was knowledgeable and compassionate. I’m thankful he took the time and was willing to do such a delicate surgery.”

Looking back, she reflects on the verse that helped her through it all —“I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4) — and is thankful for so much.

Renae closes by saying, “I would like to express a grateful thanks from me and my family to the medical doctors, eye doctors, and nurses who lovingly gave of their time and exceptional expertise to help me get better. I appreciate the kind words and care I received from the caring team and being there for me in my time of need.”

Expert Neurosurgery, Close to Home

At Lakeland Regional Health, we are proud to offer compassionate, specialized neurosurgical care to improve the lives of our patients. Dr. Gabriel Flores-Milan and our expert team are here to guide you through every step of your journey to better health.