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10 Millionth Cataract Operation
Three days in the life of Joyce Kaaya
 Tomorrow it begins. Finally the time has come. A new life shall begin for Joyce Kaaya. She cannot quite believe what the doctors from cbm-supported KCMC hospital in Moshi told her – because it sounds too good to be true: she shall see again! That would be wonderful, like a dream. But the doctor who examined her eyes sounded optimistic. He told her that she had cataracts. And she should come to Moshi to get operated and thereafter she could go home seeing again. It was the same for her father who, some years ago, went blind to Moshi and came home seeing."If this comes true life will be like a dream for my mother", says her son Ombeni. For the German ophthalmologist Dr. Heiko Philippin this prognosis is the order of the day because in Tansania cataract is the most common cause for blindness and – this is the good news– curable through an operation.  For the ophthalmologist from Freiburg, Joyce Kaaya is a good example for the successful information campaigns of the KCMC hospital. "In the past we found that people we help had been blind for some years. But Joyce has only been suffering from cataracts for about nine months and even has some residual vision. It would have been perfect if we could have operated her nine months ago – then her blindness could have been prevented. That is our big goal for the people here in the region below the Kilimajaro: to operate before blindness sets in."Joyce Kaaya doesn’t worry abouth those plans today. Her thoughts revolve around all the things which will happen to her in Moshi. The word “operation” doesn’t mean much to her, so she is a little afraid of the things to come. But she does’t want to continue living as she has in the last few months either and so she registered for the operation.  For the thoroughly positive mother of two the last year was sheer agony. She constantly had to rely on the help of others. The family was at her side, didn’t let her down or leave her alone and wove a strong family net around her. But in order to do so, some family members had to make a sacrifice: her son Ombeni stopped his training as a gardener and her niece Esther had to give up her job. She helps Joyce nearly round the clock with her everyday chores and with dressing and undressing.Therefore it would be so wonderful to be able to live independently again and without effort. It also would be really good if she would be able to care for her cows again. A few days ago while trying to feed them with grass a dangerous accident happened: She had not felt the sharp knife which was hidden in the grass and injured one of her cows. It was only a slight wound but nevertheless: it doesn’t bear thinking about if the cow had been seriously injured. Loosing a cow would have been another heavy blow. But now they are on the way to Moshi, which is located 70 kilometer away. In the afternoon Joyce arrives and is immediately admitted into the ward. The day at the hospital  Before she is brought into the theatre, Joyce is again thoroughly examined which she endures with great patience. Heiko Philippin wants to play it safe but Joyce need not to worry: "The operation will yield a good result. We will be able to give back the precious eye sight also to this patient."A few minutes later she is sitting together with 15 other patients in front of the door to the operation theatre. Heiko Philippin comes and leads her inside. There are four operation tables on which they work parallel. For Philippin it is the most beautiful OP theatre in the world. "When the weather is fine we can even see the Kilimajaro through the window." But today there is no time for such pleasures – there are too many operations on the schedule. And every patient is entitled to a constant good quality of work. That requires concentration and attention. After the local anaeshetic injection Dr. Philippin, with the experience of about 1,300 cataract operations behind him, removes the opaque lens and puts an intraocular one in its place. After that the patient is led back into the room with the beds. She tiredly lies down on her bed and quickly falls asleep. She sleeps though the whole afternoon. After the operation  The operation was a great success: Joyce is happy and thanks God and cbm. A dream has come true for her. She eagerly awaits to read her bible again and take part in other things that she has recently not been able to do. Provided by: Christian Lohse cbm Germany |
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