Sione
I’ve always dreamed of being part of something extraordinary.
When I was younger my Great Uncle Joe captivated me with stories about a very special relative of mine, his son Fred Hollows, and his amazing work restoring sight in some of the world’s poorest communities. I longed to one day be part of something like that – something extraordinary.
And then I had the opportunity to visit Samoa with The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ.
I have donated regularly to The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ for many years. I am a great believer in their philosophy that if you give a person a fish, you feed them for a day. If you teach a person to fish, you feed them forever.
So you can imagine my excitement when I was invited to go on a self-funded trip to Samoa to see Fred’s legacy living on through their sight-restoring work. My dream was coming true!
While I was there I met a very special little boy.
I will never forget little 4 year old Sione Petelo, from Savaii. He was born blind, and when I met him he was waiting to have cataract surgery. I was told that if he wasn’t operated on soon, the part of his brain that responds to vision would never develop, leaving him permanently blind.
On the day of Sione’s surgery the atmosphere was tense. Seeing Sione lying on the table in the operating theatre was a heart-wrenching sight. His tiny feet poking out from under the sheet looked so vulnerable.
Just an hour later the procedure was deemed a success, but the surgeon acknowledged he may never see completely normally because the surgery should have been done much sooner. My fingers were crossed for this dear wee boy.
Sione’s plight made me realise the extent of the need in the Pacific.
It breaks my heart to think that if Sione lived in New Zealand he would have had surgery years ago. I came to realise just how important it is to ensure everyone in the Pacific has access to the eye care they so desperately need – and deserve.
A brighter future for wee Sione.
At his check up a few days after the surgery, I was sure Sione could see some things. He was reaching for large brightly coloured balloons in his room. His smiling grandparents said they had definitely seen a change. A few months on, Sione’s vision has continued to steadily improve. He will return to Apia in August to have the cataract in his other eye removed and, if all goes to plan, he will start school in October. His grandparents are much more hopeful about his future, and I am too.
There are thousands more people across the Pacific who are desperately in need of sight-restoring surgery. Your support is vital and allows The Foundation to give people back their sight – and their independence.
Together we can continue to keep Fred’s dream alive – and be part of something truly extraordinary.
With thanks,
Laura van Peer
Supporter of The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ
