It's 17 now!

The total number of surgeries has touched 17 now under our matching grant project, the Gift of Sight. Recently, 55 year old Mrs. Raj Rani, who had lost her vision in right eye due to long term diabetese, functional vision was restored under the expert hands of Dr. Vishali of AEC, PGI, Chandigarh, who also restored functional vision of another 21 year old Birbal, who had lost eye sight due to an injury at his work place. 

And all those who hold the doubts, as to "Why give to the Rotary Foundation?" have numerous reasons to look around, and ask the person who is able to once again see the sunshine, the colorful life around, and of course, his family and friends...and how it is making the difference to their lives?   Can you measure the value of this happiness?  What our Rotarians and those in Coral Gables gave and matched by The Rotary Foundation, is perhaps, miniscule compared to the value this Gift of Sight would mean to an individual...to every individual who would be able to see again!

Vision restored

Vision of another three people was restored last week taking the total number of surgeries successfully done under the Gift of Sight project to 11. The recent surgeries include 10 year old Narender Kumar, who damaged and detached his retina when a syringe needle pierced his eye while playing with his siblings. His father, a rickshaw puller, with four children was hard pressed to take care of the surgery expense.

Amit Kumar, (13) got hurt in the left eye while playing. He had been
operated twice at PGI but needed another surgery. Patient’s father is the only
earning hand in the family of 5. The boy will be able to retain
functional vision after surgery in the left eye.

A 70-year old destitute, Amar Singh, was also operated to restore his failing vision.

Our thanks to Dr. Amod Gupta, and Dr. Vaishali Gupta, whose deft hands work so dexterously and care to bring hope to the sightless. And our fellow Rotarians at Coral Gables in USA feel elated that the fruit of their efforts is helping people across the continents, to see again.

Auto mechanic would be able to see again

Continuing with the Gift of Sight project of Rotary Club of Chandigarh in association with Rotary Club of Coral Gables, USA, under the Rotary Foundation's matching grant, the sight of an auto mechanic has been restored.
Subhash, a 50 year old auto mechanic from Kartarpur in Punjab, was operated on 26th September 2008 by Dr. Vaishali Gupta at the Advance Eye Centre, PGI, Chandigarh.
Subhash had been diagnosed with lens disorder, internal bleeding and retinal detachment in his left eye. This was a result of an industrial injury that he had suffered due to blunt trauma with a steel spring.
Subhash is the only earning hand in his family of six including four children. He will be able to gain functional vision in his left eye after the surgery.
This is the sixth surgery under the project.

Another sight restored

Dharmender's world had shattered when a steel bar hit his left eye, dislocating the eye lens, at the factory he was working in. He belonged to Bihar and had migrated to Buddewal near Ludhiana in search of work where he started working and earned about USD70 per month. The only child of the family and only earning hand, was rushed to several local doctors but to no avail. Ultimately, his uncle, who rushed from Bihar, took him to PGIMER, where he was operated on 16th September at the Advance Eye Care Centre by Dr. Vaishali Gupta, under Rotary Gift of Sight project.
Dharmender is on his way to recovery. He would be able to retain 6x18 vision in his left eye with the help of spectacles, and be able to work.

The Story of First Surgery

The 18-year old Sarvesh, the first beneficiary of the Gift of Sight project, had been having severe eye inflammation and had lost considerable vision in her right eye.
When she was brought to PGI's Advance Eye Care Centre, Dr. Vaishali Gupta examined her and found that she was suffering from Cysticercosis - a very common parasitic infestation of the central nervous system worldwide. Humans develop cysticercosis when they ingest eggs or larvae of the tapeworm Taenia solium, which are usually found in fecally-contaminated water and undercooked pork.
The parasite had travelled to her eye and had infested the retina leading to loss of her vision. If left untreated she would have turned completely blind, the doctor said.
Dr Vaishali operated on her, removed the parasite, and repaired her retina, restoring her eye sight to 50% level, and there would be no further deterioration at least.
Our congratulations to the team of surgeons at Advance Eye Care Centre at PGI.

Message from Coral Gables

Here's a message from Rtn Noelle from Rotary Club of Coral Gables, USA, our twin club, and partner in Rotary's Gift of Sight project.
She writes in response to the news of the first surgery done at PGI last week, "When you serve something bigger than yourself, it gives your life a whole new meaning." Blessing to all for our ability to do good for others.

First surgery under Gift of Sight performed

Mrs. Sarvesh, an 18-years old resident of Chhattarpur Pahari, New Delhi was operated successfully for eye-disorder. Dr. Vishali Gupta of Advance Eye Care Centre PGI, Chandigarh, operated on her on 9th September, successfully. Our heartiest compliments to the AEC, PGI for restoring the eye sight of Sarvesh.

The Gift of Life project has been started under The Rotary Foundation's matching grant to restore eye to at least 160 patients suffering from retinal disorder.