By Abbey Kocan | Executive Director
Dear Friends,
In just a few short weeks, you have given over $16,000 to provide life changing healthcare to the people we serve in Tanzania through our partner, CCBRT. We are so grateful for your support. Thank you.
With just a few weeks left in 2017, we wanted to share an update from the people who translate your generosity into impact. Check out this video to hear a Happy Holidays message from CCBRT’s CEO, Erwin Telemans and Ruth, one of CCBRT's Prosthetist/Orthotists.
“It’s not too late.”
Every gift you give changes lives. It’s that simple. Whether you are training healthcare workers, supporting critical equipment purchases, or providing life changing procedures for children with disabilities, your support matters for people just like Emmanuel.
For two years, Emmanuel struggled to read the blackboard in his primary (elementary) school. “I could not see what was written on the board and sometimes I could feel pain in my left eye. I communicated this to the teacher. She told me she would one day take me to the hospital. My parents and my siblings noticed that I was developing this big white spot on my left eye which was increasing little by little. My fellow students asked me what it was but I had no answer because I did not know what it was.”
When Emmanuel arrived at our partner hospital, CCBRT, he was diagnosed with cataract, the leading cause of blindness in Tanzania. Cataract can be corrected with a simple surgery, as long as the child has access to a pediatric surgeon: a rarity in Tanzania. Luckily, CCBRT Disability Hospital is one of three facilities in the country with the skilled staff and equipment to give Emmanuel the treatment he needed. He was scheduled for surgery the very next day. His brother shared, “Emmanuel was a little bit afraid before going into the theater (operating room) for surgery but we are both so happy the surgery went well. I believe he will perform better in class after this surgery. Before, his handwriting was so disorganized and at times I would compare what his fellow students had written in class and what he had written and it was clear to me that he could not see very well. I believe he will do better now.”
As he sat in recovery, Emmanuel remembered his sight before the surgery “I could not see clearly; it was a bit cloudy’’. With a very wide smile he says, ‘’I am happy now my sight has improved. I can see very clearly. I would like to be a teacher in the future. And I will teach Swahili as a subject because I like it.”
This is the impact of your generosity. Last year, thanks to your support, CCBRT served over 65,000 people just like Emmanuel. Thank you for being a part of Emmanuel’s journey, and the journeys of so many others.
As Ruth says in the video, it’s not too late to make that difference to somebody’s life today.
Thank you so much for your support this year. You are the driving force behind this life changing work, and we are so grateful. Happy holidays to you and yours.
Warm wishes,
Abbey
P.S., Set up a new recurring monthly gift via our GlobalGiving project before December 31st, and GlobalGiving will match* your first month’s donation 100%!
*GlobalGiving will provide matches for donations up to $200. Recurring donations must be active for 3 months before matching funds are distributed.
By Abbey Kocan | Executive Director
By Abbey Kocan | Executive Director
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