Komlavi’s Story

Posted by Mercy Ships crew on Jul 23, 2010 at 10:33 am

Imagine feeling the blistering heat of the sun's rays without ever actually seeing the sun.

For so many Africans suffering from cataracts, that is the reality they live with every day.

Since we arrived in Togo last February, our team has treated 1,600 patients for cataracts. Every patient arrives on the ship with a unique life experience and so many valuable lessons to teach us.

Our staff will not soon forget the series of events that brought Komlavi to his surgery and the lessons we learned as a result. (You can read the story of God watching over Komlavi here.)

Having lived in West Africa all of his life, this screening was Komlavi's first experience with a medical examination. As he opened his eyes under the bright light, members from my team quickly noticed a dense, white cataract developing on one of his eyes.

Each surgery restores something that was once out of reach. For Komlavi, the procedure did more than restore his vision; it secured the promise of being able to earn a living for many years to come.

Six weeks after surgery, patients are scheduled for a return visit to the ship for a laser procedure that prevents cataracts from forming again. After the procedure is finished, patients meet for what is simply called the Celebration of Sight.

We are hopeful Komlavi will return to the Africa Mercy for this important procedure and joyous celebration. Watch our next emails closely - we hope to be able to provide you with an update.

Komlavi has reminded us that with God all things are possible. I thank you for your commitment to Mercy Ships. Your generosity is what allows us to give hope to the world's forgotten poor.

With gratitude,

Shannon Hickey
Eye Team Coordinator

God worked faithfully to bring Komlavi to the Africa Mercy so we could restore his sight. It costs just $25 to perform an eye exam on another well-deserving patient. As we continue to bring sight to the blind, support all the efforts of Mercy Ships to bring hope and healing with a donation now:

http://www.mercyships.org/sight-to-blind

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