Simple Surgery to restore Sight to Ethiopians

Terefe is 75 years old and lives in Ethiopia. He is married with three children, one girl and two boys, and he has two grand-daughters, aged four and one. Terefe is a retired soldier who now works as a security guard. As an ex-military man, he is very brave and reluctant to complain, even though he has been struggling with his vision for many years.

Ten years ago he had cataract surgery on his left eye. Unfortunately Terefe then developed a cataract in his right eye, which caused him pain and resulted in very poor vision.

Terefe walks with a stick and as his vision grew worse he began to worry about falling down and injuring himself. When Terefe heard that the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital was going to Ethiopia, he visited the local hospital to enquire about having cataract surgery.

Terefe was thrilled when the Orbis team, along with the local doctors and nurses, selected him for surgery on the Flying Eye Hospital. As a brave man, Terefe was not nervous about the surgery as he had experienced similar surgery before and he had full belief in the Orbis team. 

Following his surgery, Terefe's sight was fully restored. He could clearly see the faces of his loved ones. He no longer worried about falling and he no longer had any pain in his right eye. Terefe thanked the Orbis team and said:

"It gives me great happiness and I feel as if I am born again".

Asked what he would say to others who may be suffering similarly to him, he said:

"May God give them the chance that I have got to have this surgery! May God bless the people from Orbis throughout their life. I am very grateful."