Monticello Miracle

In 1941, Don Karkos signed up to fight in the second great war. He wasn't quite 17, but they let him enlist anyways. He became a sailor and worked on the USS Rapaden. The mission of this ship was to avoid the German U-boats and refuel Allied battleships. In the summer of '42, Don's ship was hit and shrapnel from the blown up ship was thrown everywhere. One piece caught Don above the right eye.

Don woke up in the hospital and couldn't see out of that right eye. They told him he would never see again out of that eye. They offered to remove the eye, but Don wanted to keep it there. At least it would look more normal. He returned to the farm in Maine and worked with his father, trying to adjust to not having full vision. He would bump into walls and at times had trouble with balance, not knowing what was coming around the corner.

When he started to get cataracts in his left eye, he checked with doctors to make sure it was still true. Was his right eye still unfixable, even with all of the advancements in medical technology? They shook their heads and sadly told him he would never see again out of that eye.

Don continued his work. In 1972 he had bought a small horse farm and last month was out working with the horses. He was getting a horse ready for the morning workout when the horse lowered his head and lifted it quickly, knocking Don in the head. Don stumbled back, dazed. He returned to his house and laid down, feeling woozy.

When he woke up he could see.

Miracle? God's work? Coincidence? Power of positive thinking? Does it matter? Now after 67 years, Don can see out of both of his eyes. He has full peripheral vision, and can enjoy sunsets now unlike ever before. What a great gift.