It’s hard to believe that 2018 has come and gone, isn’t it? Time flies.

Last year people like you helped us reach thousands of people in need of eye care. Thank you for your support! So many people, like Elagonda from India, were helped through your generosity.

Here’s a letter Elagonda wanted us to share with you:

“My name is Elagonda. I’m 65 years old and live in India.

 I’m not a wealthy person, and although I have two daughters who could help support me, they’re both married and have their own lives to attend to. What my family did have in savings was used to arrange their marriages into good families.

 So I live alone… I lost my husband a few years ago, and I get by on a small pension from the government. When I can, I do some farming work to make a little more money. I depend on my eyes to earn my living, and I only realized to what extent when I started to lose my vision.

 One day, my world was so dark that I couldn’t keep working. I had no other income, and I could barely survive on my pension.

 Unexpectedly, one day a community health worker trained by Operation Eyesight was at my door. She screened my eyes and told me I had cataracts.

 I was poor though. How could I afford the surgeries for my eyes? But the health worker told me that my treatment would be free of charge, thanks to Operation Eyesight’s kind-hearted donors.

 After my surgery, I can see again! I can work and spend time with my friends and neighbours. I have hope again.

 I sincerely thank the people who give their money to help people like me, even though they don’t know me. My sight has been restored – and with it, my happiness!”

 This year, we hope you’ll help us reach more people like Elagonda with the gift of sight.

Here’s to everything we’ll do together in 2019!

Cheers to a new year!

The post Happy New Year! appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

Surajkali is 65 and from India. She lives in Rurwahar Village in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Her husband is a farmer while she manages their home. Two years ago, her eyesight began to fail. Eventually, she couldn’t see at all. Her grandson, Suraj, had to guide her around her home, to the store and even to the toilet.

Poor Surajkali! She could no longer do her chores and tasks, and poor Suraj, who had to drop out of school to care for his Grandmother. Surajkali needed him so constantly that he couldn’t play with his friends. Imagine how sad they both must have felt.

Luckily, Surajkali was visited by a community health worker. Going doorto-door, the worker was one of many workers trained under Operation Eyesight’s Community Eye Health model. In Kanpur, this is in partnership with Dr. Jawahar Lal Rohatgi Eye Hospital.

The community health worker identified Surajkali’s blindness as cataract. Surajkali had never heard of this condition. She’d feared she’d be blind forever. The worker advised Surajkali to seek surgery.

The cataract in both of Surajkali’s eyes were soon removed. Now she can see again, thanks to our amazing supporters! She has her independence back and can do her daily tasks. Meanwhile, Suraj has returned to school. He’s happy that he can go out and play with his friends, something every child should be able to do. What’s more, with an education, Suraj has hope for a brighter future. Imagine their joy!

Both Surajkali and Suraj have happy endings thanks to our supporters! We couldn’t do our work without their generosity. From us and everyone our supporters are helping, we say a giant THANK YOU!

The post Her blindness was destroying two lives… appeared first on Operation Eyesight.