“I knew from the time I was five that I wanted to work here,” she said. “Dr. Kass and his staff are like a second family for me.”

Roesel, 26, has visited Michael Kass, MD, chairman of the Washington University ophthalmology department at Barnes-Jewish Hospital since she was diagnosed in kindergarten with glaucoma.

The diagnosis came as a total shock to Roesel''s family. They had no family history of the disease, and like many people had thought of glaucoma as primarily occurring in the elderly. Faced with the possibility of their child losing her sight, Roesel''s parents were understandably afraid.

Luckily, the family''s optometrist was able to allay their fears by referring them to Dr. Kass, one of the country''s leading experts in glaucoma. Although she began a round of surgeries to stabilize and preserve her vision, Roesel immediately felt comfortable with the care she received from Dr. Kass and his staff.

Even as a little girl, “I just knew they''d take care of me,” she said.

The surgeries continued until Roesel was age 12. “I lost count at 14 operations,” she says. And though it meant time off school and somewhat restricted activities, it did stabilize her vision. Her medication routine now consists of three eyedrops administered twice a day.

“I can see just fine — at least as far as I can tell,” she says laughing. “I do have a very minor vision loss, but my vision is 20-20 with glasses and I''m not restricted at all.”

Her years at Francis Howell North High School in St. Charles County were active and normal — cheerleading and getting her driver''s license when she turned 16. She graduated from Lindenwood University with her bachelor''s degree in public communications. She was thrilled to get the job as program coordinator with the Washington University Volunteer for Health program located off the main floor lobby on the south campus of Barnes-Jewish.

As a child, Roesel saw Dr. Kass a couple of times a month. Now, it''s down to a couple of times a year. But Roesel has no intention of leaving Dr. Kass or Barnes-Jewish anytime soon. In fact, she had only one stipulation when she accepted her fiance''s marriage proposal.

I told him that I''m never leaving St. Louis, because this is where I know I''m going to get taken care of,” she said.