Lampeter-Strasburg AUGUST 11, 2021
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LVIII • NO 15
R073966
townlively.com
Praying For A Miracle BY COURTNEY MENGEL
LSA B
II Corinthians 5:7 reads, “I will walk by faith even when I cannot see.” This Bible verse is very important to West Lampeter Township resident Megan Fraver.
Until February 2020, Megan, a former teacher at Martin Meylin Middle School and Milton Hershey School, considered herself a normal, stay-at-home mom raising four kids. One day while grocery shopping in Willow Street, Megan
The Fraver family
noticed that the vision in her left eye had become blurry, so the next day, she visited her optometrist. Megan was initially treated for a scratched cornea, but when her symptoms didn’t improve, her doctor re-examined her eyes and discovered that Megan’s optic nerve was swollen. An MRI ruled out a tumor, but her medical practitioners were unsure what was wrong with her. Megan was told it was rare for a person’s other eye to be affected, but seven months later, she felt a haze in her right eye. She called her neuro-optometrist and was scheduled for more tests. “I have been diagnosed with ischemic optic neuropathy from unknown causes,” said Megan. This condition causes sudden vision loss due to a blockage of blood flow to the optic nerve. “At first, we could not believe that God allowed this to happen,” she said. “But we’re allowed to wrestle and be angry as long as we don’t stay there and give up on our faith.” In her condition, Megan wondered how she would raise a 10-year-old, an 8-year-old, a 2-year-old, and a baby. “Over time, I came to accept blindness,” said Megan. “I feel as if God chose this to happen to me because He knew I could be an example of keeping faith during an incredibly difficult time.” Knowing there was no treatment available in the U.S. for her condition, Megan began to search for other options in foreign countries. That was how she came across the Fedorov Restore Vision Clinic in Germany. “Dr. Fedorov combines
cutting-edge electrical stimulation paired with patented vision therapy to improve vision clarity and better visual fields,” stated Megan. “I was skeptical because how was I to know it was legitimate?” Then one day, the clinic came up in Megan’s news feed on Facebook. It was a reshared post of a mother in Arkansas who wrote about her son’s experience after receiving treatment. Megan messaged the woman on Facebook, and one night, Megan and her husband, Matt, talked for two hours on the phone with the woman. “She encouraged us to go for it,” recalled Megan. “Her son is preparing for his second trip to Germany to help with his genetic disorder. Instead of seeing all black in both eyes, he now sees color!” In May 2021, Megan was approved to receive treatment at the Fedorov Restore Vision Clinic in Germany. After the Fravers discovered how much her trip and treatment would cost, her aunt started a GoFundMe, Megan designed T-shirts to sell, her dad fundraised with a produce stand, and Fashion Cents Consignment in Strasburg donated to Megan. Soon enough, with the help of friends, family, and the community, Megan raised enough money for her trip. Her treatment is scheduled to begin on Monday, Aug. 23. “ We keep praying and keep believing that this was God’s plan all along,” said Megan. “This could be my miracle.” Megan will likely need two treatments. To donate, visit https://bit.ly/meganseyes.
BY COURTNEY MENGEL
Due to its unpredictable spelling and challenging grammar, the English language is difficult to master, especially for those who learn it as their second language. Ever since the Naturalization Act of 1906 was passed, immigrants have been required to show proficiency in English to become naturalized citizens of the U.S. Starting on Tuesday, Sept. 21, Ascension Lutheran Church, 600 E. Penn Grant Road, Willow Street, will offer English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. The ESL program originated at another local church, but that church was unable to continue the program, so it was moved to Ascension. Depending on enrollment, four different levels can be offered: beginner, beginner intermediate, advanced, and See ESL Classes pg 10
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Lions Club To Host Golf Outing . . . . .2 Railroad Museum Sets Scenic Train Ride . . . . . . .2 Business Directory . . . . . .4 Youth Sports . . . . . . . . . . .8 House Of Worship . . . . . .11 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . .12
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