It was about a decade ago and I was visiting a school as part of my work with Operation Eyesight. The room was loud – full of the sound of children’s laughter and small, yet confident, voices. I stood at the front of the class and asked questions of India’s next generation of Ieaders. What did they know about taking care of their eyes? What did they know about India? When I asked who the current President was there was an uproar in the class, as each child jumped out of their seat, hand up, shouting. The headteacher and I nodded in approval and applauded the unanimous response.

I carried on and asked who the current Vice President was, but this time the room fell silent. As I was opening my mouth to say the answer, a loud voice bellowed through the classroom, but it wasn’t from any of the students… “Mohammad Hamid Ansari!” the voice beckoned. The students glanced around the room, curious to know which of their peers had remembered the answer, but this time no hands were raised. The answer had come from outside, which I didn’t think much of at the time. A parent had probably been listening in and shouted the answer.

Asking the children their aspirations in life prompted the standard answers – teacher, accountant, police officer, Vice President of India. “Vice President of India!” I exclaimed, “That’s a big job, but if anyone can manage that, it’s you. Why do you want to be the Vice President?” I asked. “Because that’s the only position available!” the boy responded, eliciting laughter from the whole room.

As I was leaving the school, I noticed a young girl washing dishes by the side of the building. I felt drawn to her, as if we were meant to meet. “Did I get it right?” she asked. It was then I realized it had been her who yelled into the classroom.

I asked why she was not in school. Her eyes didn’t work like the other kids’, she explained, so her parents withdrew her and instead she stayed home and helped with chores.

I was immensely saddened by her story and became determined to help. I visited the girl’s family, explained my role at Operation Eyesight and directed her and her father to one of our partner hospitals where she received a complimentary eye exam and a pair of glasses. When I followed up with the hospital, I was told that the moment this girl put her glasses on, she began smiling, laughing, and talking about returning to school immediately.

This young girl’s story inspired not only me, but others in the area as well, demonstrating that they, too, can and deserve to have the Gift of Sight and the positive outcomes it can bring – pride, the ability to learn and work, and the possibility of achieving whatever they can dream.

Although I do not know where this little girl ended up, I know she learned that her voice gave her the power to overcome obstacles and live up to her true potential as the intelligent and deserving person she is – in the classroom and beyond. And who knows? Maybe she will become the next Vice President of India.

There are still many other children and families in need of the Gift of Sight. I invite you to help more kids achieve their potential by giving the Gift of Sight in the name of a loved one this holiday season.

Kashinath Bhoosurmath
President & CEO

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Their challenging life became a living nightmare when they realized their son Anil could not see! Ravi and Laxmi didn’t know where to go or what to do to improve Anil’s eyesight. They believed it was the will of God and decided to leave it to fate.

As fate would have it, a community eye health worker named Dhanalaxmi visited the family’s home. Dhanalaxmi was going door-to-door as part of a Hospital-Based Community Eye Health Program being implemented by Operation Eyesight’s partner, St. Gregorios Balagram Eye Hospital. She examined Anil and diagnosed him with congenital bilateral cataracts, meaning his blinding condition had been present at birth.

Dhanalaxmi counselled the family and encouraged them to visit the hospital. At first, Anil’s parents were hesitant to go as they were worried about the high cost of treatment. But after being reassured that the surgery would be provided free-of-charge, they took Anil to the hospital.

Dr. Ravi Kumar, an ophthalmologist, confirmed Anil’s diagnosis and referred the family to the LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) in Hyderabad, which hosts the nearest pediatric surgical eye care unit. Accompanied by Dhanalaxmi, the family made the 60 km trip to LVPEI where Anil underwent cataract surgery in both eyes within a span of a few days – all at no cost to his parents, thanks to the support of Operation Eyesight’s generous donors!

Ravi and Laxmi were overwhelmed with gratitude that Anil had regained his vision and that the treatment had been provided free-of-charge. “God has come to us through Dhanalaxmi,” says Laxmi. “We never thought miracles were possible. We thank both hospitals and all the staff who took such good care of our son.”

Thank you to our wonderful donors who are providing sight-restoring surgery so that children like Anil and others can finally see!

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Never did Bonny Gideon and his wife Nagamani imagine that their future would be dependent upon the tiny hands that they held to teach baby steps.

The couple live in the village of Pangidigudem, located in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where Bonny works at a non-governmental organization. Both husband and wife suffer from vision-related problems: Bonny has cataract and several other eye issues, and Nagamani suffers from night blindness. Unfortunately, their conditions are irreversible.

On the advice of some friends, they have been treated at the Bob Ohlson Centre for Sight Enhancement at Operation Eyesight’s partner LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) in Visakhapatnam. The centre was established for rehabilitation treatment in 2006 with support from Operation Eyesight.

About six years ago, Nagamani and Bonny became proud parents of a daughter whom they named Smiley. But when they were told that their baby was also blind from cataract, their dreams came crashing down. They were devastated at the thought of their child facing the same fate that they suffered. Fortunately, local doctors, whom they consulted first, urged them to take their baby to LVPEI when she was only four months old.

When Dr. Avinash Pathengay saw the little family in the outpatient department, he stopped by to enquire about their wellbeing. When he learned that they were there not for themselves, but for their tiny daughter, he reassured the worried parents that

Smiley’s vision-related challenges were only temporary.

With their worries allayed by Dr. Avinash and the counselor, Smiley underwent surgery to remove the cataracts in her eyes. A month after surgery, she regained her vision completely. Today, at almost six years old, she is able to perform tasks similar to other children her age, and also attend school. She continues to visit the Bob Ohlson Centre for Sight Enhancement for follow-up treatment, and is a familiar sight to the staff of the centre.

“Smiley is using vision correction glasses as the doctor advised, attending school and helping her mother when she returns home,” says the happy father. “She reads the names of places and the numbers on the bus for us when we go out. She talks incessantly about the posters on the walls, and tells us about whatever is happening around us all along our way.

“She is the anchor to our lives; she is our eyes!”

Cataracts don’t discriminate; the vision-clouding condition can lead to blindness in tiny babies, children, adults and seniors alike. Fortunately, the solution is relatively simple! Learn how you can help.

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I wish everyone could have a supportive and caring father like mine. My dad gave the biggest and best hugs; he was a great storyteller and a terrible tease; and he always, always believed I could do anything I set my mind to do. Fathers can be your very best advocates and allies!

Speaking of advocates, let me tell you about another caring father I met in Kenya. Paul Nakach is a day labourer who lives in the town of Kakamega, 100 km southwest of Eldoret.

I met him when he brought his four-year old son, Evans, to one of Operation Eyesight’s partner hospitals, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. (Read more about my visit to the hospital here.)

Paul told me that when Evans was two, he was diagnosed with cancer in his left eye. Paul saved up enough money to make the trip to the hospital, where his son’s eye was removed. A difficult decision, to be sure!

The toddler continued on medication for a few months, but then had to have a second surgery because his eye socket was swollen. Further surgeries followed a few months later.

When I met the father and son, Evans was at the hospital for further assessment. Paul told me that overall, he was happy about his son’s surgeries because the cancer appeared to be gone and Evans’ vision had improved in his remaining eye.

However, since he didn’t have any money, Paul was worried about the necessity of continued surgeries. Even though he wanted to help protect his child’s health and avoid blindness, how could he afford the cost?

Imagine the look of relief on Paul’s face when the doctors assured him that Evans’ surgeries would be paid for with support from Operation Eyesight’s generous donors!

I know it meant a lot to this hardworking father to learn that his son’s vision and overall health would be looked after by others who care. I know my own father would have felt the same, if it were one of his children affected. Dads are like that!

There are people in your life that you appreciate, not only for what they do but just because of who they are. Your parents, your teachers, your closest friends… they almost always have your best interests at heart. This June, why not honour one of those people – a special dad, or a favourite teacher – with a tribute gift from Operation Eyesight?

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