Give the Gift of Sight to the poor in India

Being treated for eye cancer requires many visits over a period of several years.  Most children require six to eight chemo cycles  Our doctors get to know their patients very well. Everyone has a story.  I'll give you an example of a family you have helped - one of many. 

Prakasan was first brought to Aravind when he was just one and a half years old. He was diagnosed with unilateral retinoblastoma. The family lives in Nilakkotai, about 50kms from our main hospital in Madurai. They moved to Tamil Nadu, India, during the Sri Lankan civil war. Their refugee background put Prakasan’s family in unpredictable living conditions. The father earns a living through construction and painting, just sufficient to support the family's daily needs. Prakasan’s mother fainted on hearing that her son had eye cancer.

Alone, the family could have never afforded the cost of inital treatment and follow-up.  Prakasan probably would have died. But with your support, he had the tumor removed and is receiving chemotherapy.  His prognosis is great! 

Hearing your child has retinoblastoma is terrifying.  Not knowing how you can pay for cancer treatment makes it hopeless. Which is why your gift is doubly important.  Your donation gives sight AND hope.  Since Aravind first joined GlobalGiving, you have helped provide nearly 5000 visits to 505 patients and given hope to their families.

Thank you for continuing to support us.  As always, I would love to hear from you.  If you have any questions or suggestions, please email me directly at donnacampbell@aravind.org.  And, please tell you friends and family about our work and how you are helping.  

With gratitude, 

Donna Campbell, Executive Director

If you are long-time GlobalGiving member, you may remember Diwaka and his little sister Rithika. I wrote a report about them in January 2013.  Both of them had retinoblastoma -- eye cancer.  Diwakar had to have surgery when he was two years old, because his cancer was too advanced to save his eye.  But because their parents brought Rithika to the hospital just after she was born, Aravind was able to save her vision, her eyes, and her life.  

Today, both children are thriving, and their success story was reported in The Hindu newspaper, as part of Retinoblastoma Awareness month.  

There is also a story about 16-years-old Jayanthi, who will sit her high school exams next year.  She was one of the very first patients to receive treatment completely free of charge through Aravind's Ring of Hope program.  Her grandmother made sure she never missed one of her check-ups at Aravind Eye Hospital.  

Treating retinoblastoma successfully, like any cancer, takes several years of follow-up treatment and screening.  Your generosity has supported more than 6500 hospital visits for kids like Diwakar, Rithika, and Jayanthi, and ensured that they grow up cancer-free and full of hope.  

I hope you will enjoy the full article in The Hindu, linked below. Send it to your friends and family and tell them how you are helping to end eye cancer for kids in India.  Retinoblastoma is 90% curable in the US; 90% fatal in India -- together, we will change those odds. 

As always, I would love to hear from you -- what are we doing well, what can we do better, and any and all questions you have.  Email me at donnacampbell@aravind.org; follow us on facebook at AravindEyeFoundation; tweet us at @AravindEye.  And, just help us spread the word and expand the Ring of Hope for all kids with eye cancer.  

In gratitude, 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 System

Links:

• Ring of Hope around Eye Cancer -- The Hindu