The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ
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Read about the people whose lives have changed thanks to generous donors like you.
All stories
Patient stories
Team Fred stories
Patient story
Siafy's story
79, Papua New Guinea
Siafy had cataracts in both eyes for over thirty years. Thanks to sight-saving surgery, he can go back to providing for his family.
Patient story
Zaydan's story
Age 6, Fiji
Two surgeries in three days is a lot for a small boy, but it meant Zaydan could see again.
Team Fred story
Dr Epeli
Fiji
Dr Epeli was offered a scholarship to do further training as an eye doctor.
Patient story
Rupeni
Fiji
Due to cataracts in both eyes, Rupeni was going blind. Sight-saving surgery at an outreach changed that.
Patient story
Louro
75, Papua New Guinea
Thanks to sight-saving cataract surgery, Louro can go back to providing for his family.
Team Fred story
Dr Pius
Solomon Islands
"I think its a great privilege that Fred Hollows can fund us for further studies in ophthalmology." – Dr Pius
Patient story
Hesalyn's story
39, Solomon Islands
Hesalyn can now see the face of her youngest child for the first time.
Patient story
Maya's Story
Fiji
Blinded by cataracts in both eyes for four years, Maya can now see again.
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Patient story
Danela's story
60, Solomon Islands
Danela is a woodworker by trade. He can now pick up his tools and make coconut scrapers and canoes again.
Patient story
Jone's story
40, Fiji
This loving father of four has returned to work and can provide for his family again.
Patient story
Aariv and Kiaan's story
Age 12 and 9, Fiji
Two brothers can now see again. Their young lives transformed.
Patient story
Asilika's story
Nadi, Fiji
A devoted mother and grandmother. Asilika can see her family clearly again.
Patient story
Bendo's story
Age 56, Papua New Guinea
Blind in both eyes for 5 years. Bendo can now see his world again.
Patient story
Usha and Sanjay's story
Age 66 and 41, Fiji
A mother and son can now see again. A families future changed.
Patient story
Unasa's story
Age 74, Samoa
Blind in both eyes for three years, Unasa can now see his wife again
Patient story
Peni's story
Age 59, Tonga
Blind in both eyes due to cataracts, Peni can now see again. He's able to earn money again, drive his bus and visit family and friends.
Team Fred story
Dr Antonio's story
Ophthalmologist, Tonga
Thanks to a scholarship, Dr Antonio was able to train as an eye doctor and return to Tonga to provide eye care.
Team Fred story
Moses's story
Ophthalmic Clinician, Papua New Guinea
After graduating at the end of 2021, Moses is now a qualified Ophthalmic Clinician and seeing patients in a province close to his home.
Patient story
Patson's story
Age 70, Solomon Islands
After two years of blindness, regaining his independence is the most precious gift
Patient story
Poufia's story
Age 80, Samoa
Previously the chief of his village, Poufia was blind for ten long years before his sight was restored.
Patient story
Shaylan's story
5 months, Solomon Islands
Born blind, baby Shaylan underwent bi-lateral cataract surgery at just five months old.
Team Fred story
Dr Carole's story
Ophthalmologist, Solomon Islands
Dr Carole Poloso spent four years in Fiji training to become an eye doctor – far away from her family. Now she is back home, restoring sight.
Patient story
Ashita's story
Age 25, Fiji
At just 15, Ashita was diagnosed with diabetes. Ten years later, she found out she now has diabetes eye disease - right before COVID-19 hit.
Patient story
Vika's story
Age 60, Tonga
Vika lived happily on the small island of Vava'u in Tonga until she developed cataracts in both eyes.
Patient story
Sione's story
Age 76, Tonga
Cataract surgery gave Sione back his sight and sense of self-worth and gave his daughter her life back.
Patient story
Simalo's story
Age 24, Samoa
When we meet Simalo, she is four months pregnant with her first child and blind in both eyes.
Patient story
Fakatele's story
Age 9, Tonga
Our Outreach Team wouldn't have been there if our supporters weren't there, and Fakatele would have lost his sight.
Patient story
Metuisela’s story
Age 61, Fiji
Blindness doesn’t always take away your independence, but it can stop you from providing for your family.
Patient story
Elizabeth's story
Age 2, Vanuatu
After her surgery, Elizabeth could see properly for the first time - a moment that marked the beginning of a normal childhood.
Patient story
Karlpat's story
Age 46, Vanuatu
A once vital and fit man, Karlpat's life was torn from under him when he was diagnosed with diabetes.
Patient story
Iauilim’s story
Age 80, Vanuatu
She got her sight back thanks to our supporters. But they also gave her back her confidence, her independence and her happiness.
Patient story
Rex’s story
Age 29, Vanuatu
Rex had a very dense cataract in his left eye, reminding us cataract blindness is not confined to the elderly.
Patient story
Bethe's story
Age 48, Vanuatu
Without access to quality eye care, an everyday accident led to a long and painful loss of independence for Bethe.
Patient story
Clerence's story
Age 22, Vanuatu
Clerence has suffered from diabetes since she was a baby. One of the many complications is diabetes eye disease.
Patient story
Ngu's story
Age 42, Tonga
Fearful, helpless, hurting… then a 20-minute operation gave him his sight back and his life.
Patient story
Gabriella's story
Age 3, Vanuatu
Gabriella's cataract surgery changed her life, enabling her to go to school and have a childhood.
Patient story
Daniel's story
Age 4, Tonga
When a child needs an emergency operation to save his sight, you don't hold back.
Patient story
Timwia and Nawere’s story
Both age 70, Kiribati
When Timwia and Nawere met, it was love at first sight. Now it's love at second sight.
Patient story
Bibiane’s story
Papua New Guinea
Having cataracts in both eyes meant Bibiane could no longer look after herself.
Patient story
Jesse’s story
Age 74, Vanuatu
Jesse is a village chief and keen gardener, relying on his sight to make a living.
Patient story
Platini’s story
Age 8, Solomon Islands
Platini was born with cataracts that gradually got worse as he got older.
Patient story
Floyd’s story
Age 21, Vanuatu
Floyd was building a house when he got a splinter in his eye, causing a cataract to form.
Patient story
Raj's Story
Age 75, Fiji
Raj worked her entire life to care for her family but felt her blindness made her a burden.
Patient story
Toese’s story
Age 39, Samoa
Toese relied on his eight-year-old son to look after him, which meant he couldn’t go to school.
Patient story
Mere’s story
Age 62, Fiji
Globally, women account for more than 60 per cent of all people who are blind. Mere was one of these women.
Patient story
Solomone’s story
Age 63, Tonga
Without his sight, Solomone couldn’t work as a fisherman to provide for his family.
Patient story
Luke’s story
Age 80, Solomon Islands
After 20 long years of blindness, Luke thought he would never see again.
Patient story
Charlie’s story
Age 51, Vanuatu
Charlie had cataracts in both eyes, making his job in construction extremely dangerous.
Patient story
Hepi’s story
Age 65, Tonga
Hepi’s blindness made her feel incomplete. She couldn’t fulfil her duties to her husband or her daughter.
Patient story
Valentina’s story
Age 59, Tonga
Valentina can finally see her grandchildren again after her sight-saving operation.
Patient story
Durkita’s story
Papua New Guinea
Durkita, a crocodile hunter, travelled for three days by canoe to have his sight restored.
Patient story
Vani’s story
Age 72, Fiji
Vani spent 12 years without sight because of cataracts. She’d never seen some of her grandchildren.
Patient story
Ioane’s story
Age 6, Kiribati
Ioane's eye was injured while he was playing with his friends by a rubbish heap.
Patient story
Deonisia’s story
Age 64, Fiji
Thanks to her sight-saving operation, Deonisia regained her independence.
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