Last week 64 people crowded on to two buses supported by our local health care workers Kumar and Jhalak – 32 cataract patients and 32 carers – and headed to Pokhara for a simple, but life changing operation to restore their sight.
After a further series of screening, two ladies were referred to Tilgunga Eye Hospital in Kathmandu for further investigation and operation costs for detached retinas, leaving 30 patients for cataract surgery.
One old grandfather in his late 80s early 90s (he didn’t know his age, he just knew he was old), whose cataracts had rendered him virtually blind almost missed the bus. Without telling anyone, he headed off to meet the bus at the road head a day early. The bus passed him by on Wednesday morning and it was only thanks to a comment made by a local further down the road who had seen him the previous day, that they knew to go back and pick him up! Despite his great age and his failing eyesight this gentleman is fiercely protective of his independence, determined to live his life how he wants, not asking for help from anyone. Normally we do just one eye a year, but given the severity of his cataracts and his age, we left him behind under the care of his daughter-in-law and our health camp optometrist Riza, to have his second eye operated on as well.
Thursday morning saw our patients all lined up and ready to go, with a sticker posted above the eye needing surgery.
For most this was their first time. Four others came to have their second eye fixed, including this gentleman.
The simple, small incision surgery doesn’t take long, and post op the patients are encouraged to rest to give their eye a chance to start healing. Pain meds are available for those who need them and once fed, most snooze the day away.
Early Friday morning their bandages were removed and eye drops applied. All the patients were then seen by the Doctor to assess how successful the surgery had been. Most of the patients could see instantly, a few were left with blurry vision that should clear over a couple of days.
As they waited to be seen they spent the time swapping stories, asking questions and enjoying the warm winter sun.
Once they had all been seen, the nurses counselled them and their carers on the necessary post op eye care and the importance of attending the follow-up session in Waling after two weeks (they don’t have to travel to Pokhara) . Each patient was also issued with a pair of sunglasses to protect their fragile eye. Getting some of them to keep them on however, was a whole different matter!
We couldn’t do this work without the amazing support we receive from our local health workers, as it is they who chase the patients up, counsel them, follow-up with them, accompany them to the hospital and ease any fears they may have. They will also distribute the 79 pairs of prescription glasses ordered through the eye hospital, from the eye tests done at the health camps. The time and effort both Kumar and Jhalak put into this project is truly humbling. It is not just us who appreciate their efforts, the patients and their families are also extremely grateful, and they showed their appreciation by giving them both a big round of applause.
Finally, a Himalayan thank you to our donors from around the globe and One World One Heart Foundation for making this possible. What an amazing way to start 2017 – giving the gift of sight, a gift that just keeps giving.