Give the Gift of Sight to the poor in India

This past spring, I visited with several eye cancer survivors and their families at the Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. Some first came to Aravind as children or infants and now are young adults, completing their education or working at their first job.

All of these patients are beneficiaries of Aravind's Ring of Hope program.  Families frequently express their gratitude for the compassionate and expert care they receive at Aravind -- completely free of cost. It is devastating to hear that your child has cancer – the last thing you need is to worry about how to pay for treatment. 

One young woman, 21-year-old Jeyanthi, travelled all the way from Coimbatore to Madurai with her father to spend the afternoon with us. She told the head of the program, Dr. Usha Kim, “I would travel anywhere and anytime you need me to speak about Aravind to other patients.  I am so thankful.”  Jeyanthi is graduating college in three months with a degree in special education and will work at Aravind’s Low Vision department in Madurai.  We are lucky to have her!

And, we're lucky to have you as our friend and supporter.  During the last 12 months, you've helped us start 57 new patients on the road to health, provide 815 follow-up visits, offer genetic testing to 51 patients and family members, and create custom eye prosthetics for 41 children.  Thank you!

Please reach out to me if you have any questions about our work and how your donation is being used.  I would love to hear from you.  And, tell your friends about the good work that you are doing to eliminate needless blindness! 

In gratitude, Donna Campbell, Executive Director, Aravind Eye Foundation

"Intelligence and capability are not enough.  There must be the joy of doing something beautiful."

From the journals of Dr. G. Venkataswamy, founder of the Aravind Eye Care System