EBAA
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“The field of donation allowed me to help people, and gives me surgical opportunities.” …The Army has made him a better eye banker, saying, “It definitely instilled in me great discipline, strong work ethic, and overall sense of service to others.”
Ingrid recommends service to anyone and is trying to convince her son to enlist. If she had discovered medicine earlier in her life, she says she likely would have been a medic in the Army. Even without direct military medical training, her experiences in the service transcend to her daily work duties making her a better eye banker, and Miracles in Sight a better eye bank.
Returning to the U.S., Dr. Enzenauer went to the Children’s Hospital at the University of Colorado, where he still practices in his specialty of pediatric ophthalmology. He also Chairs the Board of Directors at Miracles in Sight and serves as an Associate Medical Director. Dr. Enzenauer says people can probably tell he has a military background because he “hates whiners,” and has learned to be flexible and adapt to any circumstances.
“The military shows you how to teach, and teaching people makes you a better eye banker. I stress three things in any process or procedure – and I learned this from the military. A task has to be: So simple your can do it in the dark. Do it when your hands are wet. And do it when you’re scared. Simplicity. Simplicity. Simplicity.”
“Eye banking may not be as dramatic as working with organs, but people are able to SEE. So many take sight for granted. It makes a profound difference in people’s lives, and therefore the job is very rewarding.”
Patrick finds that eye banking has a lot in common with military service. “A lot of the same elements are there – the teamwork, discipline. It’s mission-driven, completing service to others, for a greater good.”
Paul’s military background and training help him keep a positive attitude, embrace teamwork, and always represent the organization well. He says that sometimes his Naval background comes up in conversation, while his haircut, or his passion for organizational efficiency sometimes tips people off that he has served.
Today, Drew still thinks back on his military experience fondly. “Being in the military forces you out of your isolated communities and opens your eyes to the world. You owe it to your country to serve—everyone should commit two years to service, whether it be military, or the Peace Corps, or something similar.”
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