For Alexandra, a 73-year-old grandfather and Pastor from Malaita Province in Solomon Islands, sight-restoring surgery for him means he can serve his community, and his family, again.
For five years, Alexandra struggled to participate fully in work and family life due to cataracts in both eyes. He was unable to do things like cutting firewood, gardening, and playing with his grandchildren.
He struggled with these responsibilities falling to his wife and other family members: “I cannot do a lot of things and depend on others for help. I can’t prepare food – my wife has to do all the work herself,” he says.
Alexandra also feels his vision loss impacted his relationships with his loved ones: “If I have my eyes back, I feel that I can give a lot of help to my family, especially all the grandchildren – I have eight grandchildren,” Alexandra explained affectionately before surgery. “It would mean so much to me to build my relationships with all my grandchildren.”
But the hardest loss was his ability to read – an important skill for a man who has spent nearly 50 years preaching, teaching and counselling in his community.
“These are the things I miss most because my eyesight doesn’t work well. It’s what I really came to know that upset things most.”
Getting treatment meant a long journey – a 12-hour boat trip from his home in the Malaita Province to the Regional Eye Centre in Honiara – with his granddaughter by his side.
Alexandra received cataract surgery on his left eye and when the patch came off, his reaction said it all.
Smiling and laughing, he looked around and said, “Wow, it’s so bright.” Then: “I think it is a happy day for me – I can see again, for a long time.”
Alexandra also expressed his gratitude for the support of the New Zealand public, whose generous donations make surgeries like his possible: “A big thank you New Zealand. I really appreciate your help and your assistance for Solomon Islands. We benefit a lot.”
With your support, more people like Alexandra can regain their sight — and return to the lives they love.
Your kindness enables us to reach more people in the Pacific, ensuring that everyone has a chance to access life-changing eye care.
