A seven-year-old West African boy who was on the verge of going blind can see again thanks to life-changing eye surgery provided by the Mercy Ships charity.
Mamadou (whose last name was withheld) was born with bilateral cataracts, which means cataracts develop in both eyes before or shortly after birth.
If left untreated, this condition can lead to complete blindness in some cases.
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“We suspected that Mamadou already had cataracts when she was born, but they gradually got worse,” said Paul Rudalevicius, an eye surgeon who volunteers with Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone. he told Fox News Digital.
A seven-year-old West African boy who was on the verge of going blind can see again thanks to life-changing eye surgery provided by the Mercy Ships charity. (SWNS)
Doctors say hereditary cataracts and malnutrition are common causes of the condition.
Mamadou, from Waterloo, Sierra Leone, “could hardly see anything,” said Ella Hawthorne, an optometrist who also works at Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone.
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“I could tell the lights were on, but I couldn't even really see the hands being waved in front of my face,” she told Fox News Digital.
“He really didn't see much of the world around him.”
Mamadou's mother, Salematsu, recalled the poor treatment her son received because of his poor eyesight.
A photo of Mamadou before receiving treatment from the charity Mercy Ships. He had trouble walking and tripped over things, and his eyesight wasn't good enough to read or write. (SWNS)
“His friends always provoked him and laughed at him because of his condition,” she told FOX News Digital. “He went to school, but could not see or write clearly.''
The boy had difficulty walking and picking things up and was extremely sensitive to sunlight.
life changing surgery
Over the years, Salematsu has tried many times to get her son the surgery he needs, but local hospitals have refused. Over time, his eyesight worsened.
Mercy Ships then docked the hospital ship Global Mercy in Freetown, Sierra Leone, to provide free and safe surgeries to residents, and Mamadou was selected.
“It was so great to see him look around and start to appreciate the world.”
Mr. Hawthorne recalled his first meeting with the boy.
“Meeting Mamadou during patient selection here in Sierra Leone was truly special,” she told SWNS.
“He's nice and quiet at first, but once you get to know him, he comes out of his shell and you're hooked.”
After the surgery, doctors gave Mamadou UV sunglasses to wear until she got used to her new vision. (SWNS)
Dr. Rudalevicius points out that time was of the essence during Mamadou's surgery. “If you don't remove cataracts right away, your brain will never learn to see.”
On February 7, doctors performed small-incision cataract surgery with the assistance of a team of medical volunteers.
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The process took only two hours, but it “represented the beginning of a new vision and future for Mamadou,” according to a press release from Mercy Ships.
When she removed the eyepatch the next day, she was a little confused and overwhelmed at first, but Marcy Shipps noted that this is a normal reaction for children.
In the photo, Mamadou received eye surgery from the charity Mercy Ships. Doctors noted that time was of the essence during Mamadou's surgery. (SWNS)
“He looked around, trying to understand new information and identify unexpected objects,” the release states.
“His brain was not yet used to processing such sophisticated visual activity. But seeing the crowd around him smiling and waving, Mamadou quickly joined in and She gave me a bright and adorable smile.”
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Doctors gave Mamadou UV sunglasses to wear until she got used to her new vision. The boy started playing with toys, coloring them and riding around the ward on a toy motorcycle.
Mamadou will undergo surgical treatment from the charity Mercy Ships in October 2024. (SWNS)
“It was truly a blessing and a privilege to witness the patch being removed from his eye,” Hawthorne told FOX News Digital.
“It was so amazing to see him start to look around and become aware of the world and absorb information around him.”
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“It was something very special and I could see the joy starting to build inside him. It really reminded me of why I'm here and the impact our work is having. .”
Looking to the future
A month after Mamadou's sight was restored, the boy and his mother returned to the ship for a “celebration of sight restoration, a ceremony for patients who have undergone successful eye surgery,” Mercy Ships said.
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Mr. Salematsu shared his relief and joy at this result.
“My son can see me!” she said. “My son can go back to the community and interact with other children!”
After the surgery, the boy started playing with toys, coloring them and riding around the ward on a toy bike. (SWNS)
“Unlike before, Mamadou can now move around without jumping or falling, even when the sun is out.”
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Salematsu said she hopes her son will one day grow up to become a doctor and make a difference himself, according to the release.
Dr. Rudalevicius added to FOX News Digital, “We hope he can go to school, learn, play with other children, and in the future be able to support his family.”
