69-Year-Old Woman Travels 12 Hours to Regain Her Sight

69-year-old Maria SENE was among the first beneficiaries at the new project site in Ndioum, Senegal. She originally lived near the project site in Fatick and had previously visited the hospital for an eye examination. At that time, doctors considered her condition not yet severe enough for operation, and advised her to return for a follow-up after three months. Maria remembered these words clearly.

 

Three months later, she returned to Fatick’s hospital as scheduled, only to learn that the mobile eye treatment centre had moved to the new project site in Ndioum. Rather than giving up, she resolutely decided to follow the medical team to the new location. After a bumpy 12-hour journey, she finally arrived in Ndioum.

 

On the day of the surgery, she was overly nervous and excited, leading to temporarily elevated blood pressure. Under the careful attention of the doctors, her condition quickly stabilised, and the surgery was completed successfully. After the procedure, her eyes shone with joy as she expressed heartfelt gratitude to GX’s colleagues and the Chinese medical team.

 

Maria’s brother and three other relatives had previously undergone successful cataract surgeries at the Fatick project site, regaining clear vision. This made her firmly believe that she, too, would see the light again once the bandages were removed. Reflecting on the experience, she smiled and said, “All the hardship was worth it. The surgery was very quick and not painful at all.”

For her, this long journey brought not only eyesight but also priceless hope.