as published in StyleBlueprint

Allie SandlinPhysical health is something many of us take for granted — until something goes wrong. If you’re blessed with clear vision, pause for a moment and consider what it might be like to lose it. This was six-week-old Allie Sandlin’s reality in 2012, but thanks to the experts at UAB Callahan Eye, Allie is now a bright, beautiful, and healthy 10-year-old with excellent vision!

The day after Allie’s birth, her mother, Emily, took her to the pediatrician to undergo some routine testing. It was there that Allie’s doctor discovered there was no reflection in her left eye, indicating she had a congenital cataract, which causes the lens in the eye to become cloudy. Through recommendations from other specialists, the Sandlin family found their way to Dr. Ann Marie Arciniegas-Bernal, a pediatric ophthalmologist at Callahan — whom Emily lovingly refers to as “Dr. A.”

“Within a few minutes of meeting Dr. A, we knew that it was going to be a team effort — that we were not alone in the concern and treatment for our new baby’s eye health,” explains Emily. “She explained every detail of Allie’s diagnosis to us and made sure we understood what the course of action would be.”

Marie Arciniegas-Bernal, MD 

 Of course, this type of news is never easy for a parent to hear, but it can be especially difficult if you’re a first-time parent. In addition to learning the ropes of parenthood, Emily was also learning how to place and remove contact lenses on a newborn. Through every step of Allie’s treatment plan, Dr. Arciniegas-Bernal was available to answer any questions and offer unwavering support.

“Having each and every step explained and question answered eased our minds,” says Emily. “As Allie grew, the doctors and staff formed bonds with her that helped ease our minds and hers. We honestly consider Dr. A as family. Anyone who loves your child enough to do the hard work to make their lives better is family in our book.”

Callahan offers this line of open communication to all of its patients. Not only does this help patients feel more comfortable, but it creates a sense of trust and helps treatment progress in the best way possible. “The Sandlins would reach out to me by email and text and were really good about follow-up appointments,” says Dr. Arciniegas-Bernal. “We would also have a lot of examinations at appropriate intervals to give them the reassurance that the treatment we were doing was helping.”

While Allie saw other specialists at Callahan, Emily says they all worked exceptionally well together and kept her daughter’s well-being at the forefront. In fact, the doctor Allie saw for contact fittings and prescription changes was in the same building as Dr. Arciniegas-Bernal. “Having them both in the same building was so great for us,” Emily says. “They could meet with each other and make sure we were all on the same page and fully understood what our individual jobs would be.”

Dr. Arciniegas-Bernal credits this strong sense of teamwork to the specific niche of every doctor at Callahan. This ensures patients — and children in particular — receive the best care possible, and parents know exactly what is going on with their children. “It’s important parents know the difference between going to someone in the community who might be less specialized versus someone who’s a fellowship-trained pediatric ophthalmologist,” she adds.

Allie underwent multiple treatments and surgeries at Callahan for almost five years. While her vision has improved significantly, the compassionate care from Dr. Arciniegas-Bernal and others at Callahan has not stopped. In fact, many young Callahan patients see their doctor into adulthood. “I’m just thrilled for this little girl,” Dr. Arciniegas-Bernal tells us. “It’s been really fun to see her grow up. She comes and tells me about how things are going in school, with her little brother, and with her pets. That’s the reward of what we do. We don’t just do the surgery, and then we’re done. We’ll follow these patients until they are adults.”

Since that first visit to Callahan, Emily says she and her family have gained a new appreciation for modern medicine. “Had we missed the signs of Allie’s congenital cataract or not had the swift progression of visits and surgeries, Allie might not have been such a success story,” she says. “Allie is now a healthy and bright 10-year-old, going into the fourth grade, and we are so thankful for our continued care at Callahan.”