Two year old Fiza was born with cataract in both eyes. Her father Akber had been the happiest man on earth when Fiza was born – Fiza is their only child and was born after 10 years of marriage.
When the doctor informed them that Fiza was born with cataracts and would be unable to see they were devastated. They took her to the best clinics that they could afford, but everyone said the same thing: that she was too young to be operated upon and they would need to wait.
Akber is a plumber by profession and earns a meagre salary of Rs. 10,000 a month, with which he pays rent and supports his elderly parents who live with him. He knew that they would need money for Fiza’s operation, but he was unable to save anything. He wanted nothing more than for his child to be able to see and run around like other children her age. It was especially painful when his nieces and nephews came over and Fiza, who had just started to speak, would beg her mother to let her play with them but was not allowed to do so for fear of hurting herself. Akber prayed day and night for a miracle and it was sheer luck that a relative told them about LRBT’s free eye care services and advised them to take Fiza for a checkup. By this time Fiza was 2 years old.
Upon reaching the hospital she was examined in the paediatric department and the doctor informed Akber that her eye can be operated upon. She had a successful operation in one eye and would be returning soon for surgery on the other eye. Her joy when the bandage came off and she saw her mother for the first time was a sight to behold.
