Physical Health Pakistan Project #23073

Restore eyesight to 1500 poor women in Pakistan

by The Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust

Project Report | Jan 16, 2018
Samina's resilience - a source of inspiration!

By Fauzia Aziz | Manager Resource Development

22 years old and laden with tradegy and responsibilities far beyond her age, young Samina lived through a marriage, the untimely death of her husband and the birth of her daughter. Born in a poor household in Badin, she was always a responsible child. Her parents both farmers used to leave early morning to go pick cotton in the nearby farms. She used to cook for her younger siblings and clean the house before going out to play.

When Samina’s aunt asked for her hand in marriage for her son, Samina’s parents immediately agreed as he had a stable job and was of sound character. Samina was married at the age of eighteen. Samina though young was happier than she had ever been in her life. Her husband was a caring man and they got along very well. Samina was soon expecting their first child when the phone call came that her husband had been in accident and did not survive. Within the skip of a hearbeat Samina was left a widow and her unborn child without a father. Samina moved back to her parent’s home and once her child was old enough she started to work alongside her mother in the cotton fields so as to provide for her.

Despite the tragedy, Samina's spirit never broke, she infact took strenght from it to fortify herself to tackle what may come with courage and determination to give her daughter the best she could. Even when she started to experience blurred vision, where others would have been scared she confronted it head on and went to an eye clinic on her own for a checkup. She was diagnosed with cataract and referred to LRBT Korangi Hospital Karachi.

Her mother was her pillar of support at this time, taking care of her young daughter while they accompanied her to LRBT Korangi Hospital for the surgery. At her follow up visit, Samina was all smiles having chosen to look at her fortune of coming for an eye examination in time and getting the best care possible, instead of seeing this as another test in her life.

There are few people with such resilience and we wish Samina the very best for her life. With this attitude she is sure to make her dreams come true!

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Samina (DOCX)

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Oct 18, 2017
A mother and wife - her sight and life restored!

By Fauzia Aziz | Manager Resource Development

Naziran Bibi smiles as she watches her children play. Loud shrieks of boisterous laughter fill the house as her five children race around in the narrow verandah. She cant help but be relieved that her children look happy and carefree from the worry plaguing them for the past six months. Till a month ago Naziran had been unable to see from her left eye, severely limiting her ability to take care of her young children and complete her daily chores. Her eldest daughter had been a pillar of support; taking care of her younger siblings and helping Naziran with her everyday tasks.

Every day Naziran gives a little prayer of thanks as she recalls the trying phase of her life when her vision was deteriorating till she had been unable to see from one eye at all. How it had impacted her little children the most - they had constantly complained on her unwillingness to play with them. In truth she had been unable to but could not bring herself to tell them so she hid behind a facade of sternness.

Her husband noticed the change in their once lively household, Naziran tried to keep a brave front but things were just not the same. He vowed to do whatever it took to help her see again. His mission was short-lived as one day while having tea at their neighborhood hotel he overheard an old man telling his companions about the free surgery he had recently undergone at a hospital in Arifwala. He approached their table and quickly explained his wives condition and asked the address. The old man was only too willing to give it to him and wished him luck. This was all the encouragement Naziran’s husband needed. Naziran went to LRBT Arifwala hospital with great hope and did not return disappointed.

Today she can see again and is back home in full spirits ensuring that their lives are back to normal.

Attachments:

Naziran Bibi Pictures (DOCX)

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Jul 19, 2017
A Mother's dreams restored

By Fauzia Aziz | Manager Resource Development

28 years old Bashiran bibi, looks older than her years; the lost look on her face speaks volumes about the difficult life she has lead. Having been married off at a young age, she never got a chance to complete her education. Soon after she was expecting her first child and then her three other children were born. Her husband works as a car mechanic and earns only Rs. 8000/- a month, which barely covers their rent, living expenses and children school fees. Bashiran bibi desperate to help contribute to the family income learned stitching from a neighbor and had recently started sewing clothes for women.

Even though that only brought in a meager amount yet she hoped to learn embroidery in the future as that was more in demand and fetched a higher sum. Just as things were starting to look up for Bashiran and her family, she started to experience blurred vision; worried she immediately went to a local clinic for check up and was advised glasses.

Her vision improved for a while and thinking that this was the end to her eye ailment she went back to stitching. But her respite was short lived as after a couple of weeks, she felt that she could not see as clearly as before and felt pressure on her left eye when concentrating. Her two younger children were sick with chicken pox at that time so she ignored the discomfort in her eye and tended to her children and home.

Unfortunately four months ago, she was almost unable to see at all from her left eye. She again rushed to the local private clinic but this time the news was much worse. She had developed a cataract and would need surgery. Bashiran was beside herself with worry; she knew their financial condition would not allow her to get treatment. She was more scared for her children –what would happen to them should she go completely blind, with her youngest son barely a year old and completely dependent on her for his every need.

She rushed home and told her husband, he tried his best to secure a loan for her treatment but his relatives were in as dire straits as them financially and his boss had already lent him money a couple of months ago when their house had needed repairs. With no one left to turn to, both husband and wife resigned themselves to the fact that she may never get her sight back.

Fortunately for Bashiran her husband's cousin came to visit them and after learning of Bashiran's plight she advised her to go to LRBT Pasrur, where someone from her inlaws had an eye surgery completely free of cost. Too scared to hope that such a thing was possible, Bashiran went the next day accompanied by her sister in law. Upon reaching LRBT Pasrur she was fully examined and advised surgery for cataract.

She was operated upon and her surgery was successful. Bashiran bibi has returned home to her children and is looking forward to supporting her family once again. Her children couldn’t be happier to see their mother well with her sight restored.

Attachments:

Bashiran_Pics.docx (DOCX)

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