Give the Gift of Sight to the poor in India

People tend to focus on numbers when they first learn about Aravind, and admittedly, the numbers are impressive. Since Aravind was founded in 1976, we’ve seen nearly 80 million patients and performed 10 million sight-giving surgeries and procedures. More than half free or heavily subsidized. Our Ring of Hope program, now nearly 20 years old, has provided free cancer care to nearly 1000 patients.

But behind every number is a person and a story about their struggle with needless blindness and how it affects their life and the lives of their family and community. And, everyone at Aravind knows that. It is what keeps us striving to do better and make your donations go as far as we can.

One such person is Challa. Her parents noticed a protrusion in her eye and took her to the Aravind hospital in Madurai. She was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, an eye cancer that is almost completely curable in the US, but is often fatal in India, because of late diagnosis. Her parents are very poor and couldn't have paid for treatment, but thanks to your generosity, she's had surgery and chemotherapy, completely free of cost. She will receive check-ups and new prosthetic eyes as she grows, also free, until she is an adult.  

You have given the gift of sight to so many patients like Challa. Thank you for your generosity and for your support of Aravind’s mission to eliminate needless blindness.

 Wishing you a very happy Diwali!  

Donna Campbell, Executive Director

"Intelligence and capability are not enough. There must be the joy of doing something beautiful."             from the journals of Dr G. Venkataswamy, founder of Aravind Eye Care Systems

Dear Friend,

In April, I was finally able to visit our hospitals in India after a three-year absence! I travelled to five of our 14 hospitals, including our newest hospital in Tirupathi, one of India's most famous temple towns.  Most importantly, I had the privilege of spending time with people who have devoted their lives to eliminating needless blindness.

The highlight of my trip was a day with Dr. Usha Kim, founder of Aravind's Ring of Hope program and head of Orbit, Oculoplasty, Ocular Oncology & Ocular Prosthetics at Aravind Eye Hospital -- Madurai.  This amazing doctor created the Ring of Hope to provide treatment to patients with ocular cancer -- diagnostic scans, surgery, chemo, radiation, custom, prostheses and accommodation and travel to the patient and family -- completely free of cost.  

As you know from my earlier reports, most of our patients are babies and children under the age of five.  Without early diagnosis and intervention, they can lose their sight and their lives.  

In the past 12 months, Dr. Usha and her team have treated 53 new patients and provided 1,283 follow-up visits, plus testing for 81 patients and their relatives to determine if there is a genetic cause to their cancer.  But that's just part of the story. 

Every spring, Aravind hosts a “Survivors’ Day” to honor the courage of our young patients and their families. Some of these kids are now in college, even though they came to Aravind as toddlers. It is a joyous and emotional celebration, as you can imagine.  Without your help there would be a lot fewer attendees. You might not be there in person, but your presence is felt through your selfless generosity.  

From Dr. Usha: “Thanks to all the support you have given us. Because that support motivates us to move forward.”

In gratitude, Donna

“Compassion is the wish to see others free from suffering.” The Dalai Lama