Update on Gotya - Youngest Eye Surgery Recipient

Last April, PRASAD e-News published a touching story by PRASAD Chikitsa eye surgeon Dr. Anurag Agarwal, about the youngest person to ever receive cataract surgery in our eye care program in India. Many e-News readers contacted us to say how moved they were by Gotya’s story. Now, a year later, we’re bringing you this update from PRASAD Chikitsa on how he is doing.

Thirteen-year-old Bhalchandra Shanwar Mokne – or Gotya, as he is called – had been completely blind from cataracts since the age of five. He could not go outside to play with other children, or attend school, or help his aging parents care for his siblings. PRASAD found out about Gotya’s situation and persuaded his parents to bring him to have surgery on one eye. Gotya and his parents were overjoyed at the return of his sight, and he expressed a desire to be able to go to school again and study to become an eye doctor! (To read original story about Gotya, click here…)

Now 14, Gotya’s big smile tells you right away how much his life has changed for the better. After the successful surgery on his right eye, he was able to take school exams and be moved into the 6th grade. His parents and teachers were delighted by the rapid recovery of his sight and his motivation to study and learn, making up for lost time. Gotya’s left eye was successfully operated on two months after the first surgery, and he is doing well. He loves his studies, loves to play cricket with other children – and yes, he still wants to become an eye doctor!

Gotya in class, with his teachers, and doing a math problem on the blackboard.