Young Ears Hear & Blind Eyes See in India

Severe pain in Soni’s right ear had been a part of her life ever since she was little. She experienced nonstop bursts of burning pain that had robbed her of countless good nights of sleep. It took away the strength and energy the 12-year-old needed to attend school. “I lost one year of my education,” shared Soni. “My ambition is to become a teacher. I don’t think my dream will ever come true. I feel very sad when I see my friends doing well in their studies and having fun. The thought that I can not hear like them makes me feel miserable.”

Soni was the eldest daughter of a poor farmer in the village of Balki, India. Her parents took her to numerous hospitals and spent whatever little money they had to try to find relief for their suffering daughter. Soni’s ear infection went from bad to worse. Desperately, they tried everything they could afford, but nothing relieved the pain for more than four days. Some treatments only aggravated the infection.

Soni’s parents lost all hope of being able to help their daughter. The situation changed when Operation Blessing India came to do a free medical clinic. After her exam, a caring doctor told Soni’s parents that she probably had a fever at an early age that caused her to develop an infection behind the ear drum. Because it was never properly treated, the eardrum burst.

The doctor gave Soni the proper treatment she had always needed. For the first time in years, she had a restful sleep and she could concentrate on her studies. She did not have to fear going deaf. Instead, Soni put all of her energies into fulfilling her dream of becoming a teacher. Soni was one of 3,880 patients our team treated during the medical, dental and optical mission in Balki; one of 3,880 that now have reason to hope for a bright future.

Tandi’s World Opens Up
Heavy rains were pounding the village of Kolbeli. Then the electricity went out. The whole village was in total darkness. Bhadrak and his wife searched for a candle, yet it didn’t matter to Tandi, their 12-year-old son. He was blind in one eye and could see very little from the other.

Even as an infant, Tandi couldn’t see well. As he grew older, his vision became worse. The family lived in a remote village where there wasn’t such a thing as a nearby eye doctor. Even if there had been one, the poor family wouldn’t have been able to afford basic eye care.

Tandi lived an isolated life; it was difficult for him to play with his younger siblings and the village children. “I was very jealous of my parents and of my younger siblings,” Tandi stated. “They could see and I couldn’t. My siblings could do all kinds of fun things, while I stayed home and cried. Although I was able to go to school, I did not study well. Worst of all my classmates said sarcastic comments about my eyes. There was no hope for me. My parents loved and cared for me but they are too poor to take me to a hospital.

“One evening, I heard that a team of eye doctors had come to a nearby village to conduct a free eye camp. The news brought joy to my heart. At last, I will be able to consult a doctor. I could not sleep that night, but was thinking about all the things I could do when I can see.”

It was a long journey, but for Tandi, it was life-changing. Volunteer ophthalmologists on Operation Blessing India’s team gave him an optical exam. They found that the 12-year-old had fully mature cataracts on both eyes. Dr. Singh operated on Tandi, removed the mature cataracts and replaced them with intraocular lens. Two days later the bandages were removed and his eyes were tested again. Tandi could see 100%!

“I can see every thing! I can see very clearly! Oh! I am so happy,” said a very excited Tandi. “Since I can see well now, I will study hard, and I will become a doctor and serve the poor people of Orissa,”

During the medical mission, a team of ophthalmologists, dental surgeons, paramedics and other volunteers served 1,589 people with eye infections, 1,218 people with dental problems, performed 380 dental procedures and conducted 312 cataract surgeries!

Somewhere in the world right now, an Operation Blessing medical team is tending to the needs of the sick and hurting. Somewhere in the world, our teams are feeding the hungry and helping survivors of disaster. Will you help us?

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