The expression, “Seeing the world through a child’s eyes,” is generally imagined to be an idyllic state. However, what if you had to rely on your 10-year-old son to be your “eyes” because you can’t see?
That’s exactly what happened to Asrofi, a 50-year old mother who lives in a tiny village about 100 kilometres away from Thakur Sitaram Sevakenda Eye Hospital, Operation Eyesight’s partner in West Bengal, India.
Essentially blind from cataracts, she depended on her young son to not only do all the cooking and household chores, but act as the small family’s sole bread winner. He earns about 63 rupees (CDN$1.17) per day as a farmer.
When neighbours told Asrofi that she could get help at Thakur Sitaram and didn’t have to live in darkness, she was hopeful. The hospital provided transportation to and from her home, as well as cataract surgery, free of charge. There was no way Asrofi could have afforded treatment without support from Operation Eyesight donors.
Today, Asrofi can take care of their home, cook and even spend time with others in her village. She is happy instead of hopeless. Though her young son is still farming, he has many more options open to him now that he no longer needs to care for his mother.
Asrofi has a few simple, heartfelt words for Operation Eyesight’s supporters: “Thank you for helping my family.”
Learn more about Operation Eyesight’s partnership with Thakur Sitaram Sevakenda Eye Hospital.