The blind now see!

During the third outreach, the YWAM Medical Ship was based in the Baimuru District of the Gulf Province. We also sent a land-based team to provide services to a highly populated area in Ihu District called Orokolo Bay. The optometry team spent two days in this area, providing spectacles to individuals with low vision, as well as hoping to find individuals in need of cataract surgery.
In those two days, our optometrist, Abigail, found dozens of patients that were candidates for cataract surgery. It was those though, with blindness in both eyes that were referred first. Eight individuals agreed to travel the five hours to the ship with the optometry team to receive the surgery. Among these patients was seventeen-year-old Maggie.  Maggie had congenital cataracts (from birth) in both eyes… so you can imagine the hope that she had in her heart for this surgery.

Every single one of these patients from Orokolo Bay had successful surgeries. Once they were blind and now they can see! Maggie had both eyes operated on and was prescribed a pair of prescription glasses also. With the surgery and her new specs she had better-than-normal vision and she will now be able to go back to school!
The reality of being a part of changing the lives of people like Maggie is overwhelming at times, because of the amount of love that surfaces in your heart for each individual being so unexpected.
Being a part of their story certainly isn’t something small, no matter what role each of us plays. This will be an event in their lives that they will never forget and we had the opportunity to be included in that. What a privilege!