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A Challenging Case - A Joyful Outcome
By Carlos
Suárez, general director, PRASAD de Mèxico
Editor’s
note: In February, 2009, PRASAD de Mèxico hosted an
eye camp in city of Campeche. PRASAD staff welcomed more than 150 patients.
The program’s general director, Carlos Suárez, offers this
account of his conversations with a patient named Angel, who came to the
camp for cataract surgery.
“Angel is 42 years old, yet he stands about four feet 8 inches tall and he weighs just 35 kilos (about 75 pounds.) As Angel told me about himself - blinded by cataracts caused by diabetes, nearly deaf, spending most of his days in a hammock in his sister’s home - I felt deep emotions; compassion for his many physical impairments, and astonishment at his faith and positive outlook and at my own willingness to accept people as they are – patient, kind and hopeful – yet living under some of the most trying circumstances imaginable.
Angel’s father and three brothers have died and his mother is ill. Fortunately, Angel’s sister, Maria, enjoys good health and possesses a strong will and great character.
The diagnosis for Angel’s cataracts surgery was not encouraging
as his diabetes is very advanced. Nevertheless, the doctors wanted to
try to improve his sight as much as possible and, with this, the quality
of his life. Their plan was to perform the surgery in one eye and, if
that surgery was successful, to operate on the other eye during the next
eye camp.
I explained to Maria that there was the possibility of the surgery not
improving Angel's sight, and that in any case, his condition would not
worsen. With firm resolution, she asked me to go ahead. She said she knew
only a miracle would help her brother and she was hoping for this to happen.
I explained this to Angel, too, almost shouting next to his ear, so that he could hear me; His answer was a resounding, ‘Yes! Yes, I want to do it. I want to see, so that I can support my sister and take care of her children.”
The hoped-for miracle took place; Angel is now able to see Maria,
whom he enfolded in a loving embrace. This woman, so strong 
and
determined, burst into tears and stopped only to thank and bless everyone
who had made the miracle possible.
At Campeche, we served more than 150 people. Each one has a compelling story of adversity and yet, with your support, they will each have a miracle of their own, the gift of sight.”
Editor’s note: In the last decade, your support has allowed PRASAD de Mèxico to hold over 121 eye camps and treat more than 18,212 individuals who were suffering from cataracts and strabismus (crossed eyes.) On their behalf, we offer you our profound and sincere thanks.