Some Stories of Grateful Patients

2009

Virginia Prieto de Portillo

Virginia is 42 years old and lives in the town of Huguá Guazú north of Loreto (600 km from Asunción). She is a homemaker and the mother of eight children. Virginia begin to lose her sight in one eye due to cataracts two years ago. As time went on, the cataracts affected her other eye and she was blind for three months. She felt sadness and anger because of the limitations and marginalization she began to experience due to her blindness. She was unable to do housework or take care of her family. What she missed most was not being able to see the faces of her younger children, 7-year-old Peter and 10-year-old Robert. In spite of the fact that she had no Money for treatment, Virginia did not lose faith. After praying a lot to God to recover her sight, she heard on the radio about a trip organized by the community of Loreto to take people with blindness and other related problems to be treated by Fundación Visión in Asunción. Even though she had not consulted with an ophthalmologist before, without giving it a second thought and with very little money, Virginia walked the 30 km between her and the bus station. After being examined by the Fundación doctors, she underwent surgery on her left eye on August 18, 2009 and she was happy because the following day she could see again. It is noteworthy that the community of Loreto covered the cost of her transportation and the greater part of the cost of the surgery. t of. Now Virginia is eagerly awaiting an operation on her other eye within three months. She is very happy to be able to cook again and to see her loved ones, although she says with humor that the only disadvantage is that she won’t have an excuse not to help her husband milk the cows.

Eugenio Villar

Eugenio lost his sight three years ago because he didn’t know where to ask for help. He lost his job due to his blindness. Eugenio told us that during these years of blindness, he lived a sad life because although he was physically strong, he depended totally on other people. Eugenio went to an appointment at the mobile clinic of Programa Visión in Vallemí and the doctors told him that his blindness could be reversed with cataract surgery. Eugenio underwent surgery on July 6, 2009 at the Fundación Visión and now he feels very happy because he can see his grandchildren that were born recently, and he can also recognize his friends that say hello when they walk by. Eugenio hopes to take advantage of recovering his sight by continuing to work as before in the quarry moving stones.

Ramón León

Ramón León is a native of Vallemí and he is 75 years old. Widowed and abandoned by his family members, Ramón was blind for 5 years. His sustenance and care come from the solidarity of his neighbors, who took him to the medical office of Programa Visión. The town councilors from the municipalities of San Lázaro, Joaquina Azuaga y Digno Cañete, made arrangements for his transportation to Asuncion, where he underwent surgery by the doctors from Fundación Visión on July 7, 2009. Most of the cost of his transportation and operation was covered by the community of Vallemí, led by the local radio Itápora. Ramón has recovered his vision. His expression on taking the bandage off of his operated eye was, “the world is new to me today.” Ramón’s smile in the photo, while he shared his joy with the radio station Itápora de Vallemí, shows his happiness.

De Los Santos Bernal - Alegría entre vecinos

Mariano Valdez, from the town of Luque, recounts: "De Los Santos Bernal grew up without his parents in the surroundings of Luque. We know him to be a person with a good heart, willing and honest. Some time ago he lost his sight. Several times he ended up waking up in faraway neighborhoods because he didn’t recognize places, so the neighbors began to take care of him. We went around to several hospitals to get help but everything was very expensive. As if sent by God, someone told us about Fundación Visión. We had the first appointment in Areguá where the doctors made a diagnosis of bilateral cataracts (in both eyes). The diagnosis gave us a lot of hope. The surgery took place on July 1, 2009, three days after the appointment and it was “AN ALL AROUND SUCCESS.”The next day they took off the bandage and De Los Santos could see again, he called me by my name and then he looked at my daughter and said her name too! The joy was so great that all we could do was cry, and we were amazed at this opportunity that God gave to De Los Santos to be able to see again. I am infinitely grateful to the people that work at Fundación Visión and I hope that God will fill their lives with blessings for this noble task that is “GIVE LIGHT TO OTHER EYES”. THANK YOU VERY MUCH! Mariano Valdez.

Aura Espínola - When an operation means more possibilities to get ahead.

Aurelia Espíndola is from the city of Carapeguá, located in the department of Paraguarí. The woman suffered for four long years of cataracts in both eyes. She had practically lost her sight. Her situation kept deteriorating because she became a widow at a young age. The limited support that some relatives offered her forced her to take on many activities for her daily sustenance. She spent many hours tending to and feeding hens. The sale of the chickens she raised and their eggs helped her overcome the obstacles of poverty. Nevertheless, the blindness grew worse and there was never a lack of dishonest people who stole part of what she produced. This reality drove her to consult with the professionals of Fundación Visión during an outreach campaign that set up a mobile clinic in Carapeguá. The first medical appointment was decisive for her life. From the moment of that opportunity, according to what Aurelia remembers, her situation changed. After a time she traveled to Asuncion to undergo further examination. The medical exams showed that Aurelia should be operated on as soon as possible, for the cataract was in its most aggressive phase and Aurelia couldn’t see any more. Today Aurelia recounts. “I will go back to raising and selling hens. The Foundation gave me the opportunity to go back to work. I will be able to start over again and get ahead.

Dahiana Cuevas

Dahiana Cuevas lives in the city of Encarnacion located 374 kilometers from Asuncion. Dahiana has had an ocular condition since birth, which was detected by her parents when they began to notice that the baby couldn’t see anything when she was four months old. With effort and thanks to the help of neighbors, they got a hold of Fundación Visión. From then on, she began a long treatment that included the use of glasses so that Dahiana would not have problems carrying out her activities. In spite of using glasses with very strong lenses, Dahiana had difficulties at school. The collaboration of her classmates and her teacher were of vital importance in order to overcome her vision impairment. The girl’s parents decided to travel to Japan to look for new job opportunities and this way they were be able to support the family. They left young Dahiana in the care of her aunt, who with much sacrifice traveled to Fundación Visión and put all of her hope in each treatment that was administered to the girl. After five years, Dahiana was ready for surgery. The doctors embarked on a search for the intraocular lens that was needed. In the month of March, 2009, the girl underwent surgery. The result was a big smile that opened the door to new opportunities in the life of Dahiana. At six years of age she can see without difficulties and she will be able to improve her performance at school.

2008

Edison Alejandro Arce Alegre

Edison Alejandro was born on December 18, 2008. He can’t close his left eye and he was born with no right eye, perhaps as a consequence of exposure to pesticides or birth control pills that his mother was taking. Edison Alejandro currently receives treatment at Fundación Visión.

Emerenciano Cabrera

Emerenciano is 75 years old and currently lives by himself in a house that he takes care of in San Lorenzo. Emerenciano, who suffered from cataracts, was operated on both eyes and was very grateful to Fundación Visión for the care he received during his operation.

Juan Molas Quintana

Juan is 64 years old and currently lives in Conavi 3, Ypacaraí. Juan began to suffer from cataracts in his left eye 8 years ago and he is very grateful to Fundación Visión because the surgery allowed him to return to his job.

Mercedes Blanco

Mercedes is 55 years old and comes from Luque. She suffered from diabetic retinopathy. In addition, an automobile accident caused a hemorrhage in one of her eyes, causing her to be blind for more than 100 days. During that time, what she most missed was helping her son and serving at the church she attends. Mercedes was able to recover her sight thanks to undergoing surgery performed by Programa Vision doctors on August 7, 2008.

Mario Baldovinos

Mario is a 55-year-old diabetic patient and lives in the Republicano neighborhood of Asunción. He underwent surgery through Programa Visión on August 7, 2008. A vitrectomy in the left eye has allowed him to resume many of his former activities.