Ollie, a young toddler, began experiencing vision problems that gradually worsened before being diagnosed with congenital bilateral cataracts. Although resources proved a huge stumbling block, organisations, therapists and medical experts came together to restore this little boy’s vision through a life-changing surgery at no cost!

Gqeleni, South Africa (22 October 2024) – Imagine watching your friends and toys slowly start to look a little different and seem further away each day, almost out of nowhere. You struggle to communicate this confusing, blurred vision to the people around you because, after all, you’re just a toddler.

This was the case for little Ollie, who was the picture of health. He was a happy, active toddler exploring the world with wide-eyed wonder until his mother began noticing a deterioration in his vision when he was just one year old.

His mother recalls how her son would struggle to see things from a distance while playing and even moved up close to the screen to watch TV.

Concerned by his behaviour, his mother inspected his eyes and discovered that they appeared foggy.

According to the Small Projects Foundation, Ollie’s mother immediately approached his preschool to discuss her concerns, but the staff had not noticed any issues.

However, when Ollie turned three, his teacher referred him to an occupational therapist (OT) due to concerns about his classroom participation and performance.

A 25:40 Children’s Alliance South Africa occupational therapist, Petra Stadler, assessed Ollie and referred him to Grace Vision, an NGO that operates out of Zithulele Hospital and conducts outreach at Canzibe.

A breakthrough in diagnosis was finally reached when Grace Vision diagnosed Ollie with congenital bilateral cataracts and referred him to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital for surgery.

But as life would have it, Ollie could not have the surgery he needed due to a lack of resources – a delay which deeply troubled Petra as the boy was at an age that was critical for neurological and perceptual development.

“I worried that a prolonged delay in surgery would severely stunt his learning and brain development,” Petra explained.

She soon learned about the Small Projects Foundation’s Bona Ubuntu programme, which set Ollie’s turning point in motion.

An appointment was set for the little boy to go to the ophthalmology department at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital (CMH) in East London.

With the help of Petra, prayers were finally answered, and Ollie successfully underwent cataract surgery on both eyes for free, thanks to generous intraocular lens donations from suppliers.

All of this was the collaborative efforts of CMH, 25:40 Children’s Alliance South Africa, Umbono Eyecare Project and Bona Ubuntu Programme.

His mother’s unwavering love and dedication to the organisations CMH, 25:40 Children’s Alliance South Africa, Umbono Eyecare Project and Bona Ubuntu Programme have given Ollie a second chance at life.

Petra and Ollie’s mother were overcome with emotion and gratitude, sharing:

“We are incredibly grateful to all involved for making this possible, as we are not sure what we would have done otherwise.”

Ollie’s road to recovery is still ongoing. Although he now sees clearly and is back at school, he missed out on a lot of learning due to his vision impairment. However, his mother has confirmed that since the surgery, he is doing much better.

“He is reading and starting to write now,” the grateful mother shared.

Petra continues to work with Ollie through weekly therapy sessions to help him develop the perceptual and executive functioning skills he needs to be fully prepared for Grade 1.

She is confident that Ollie’s future looks much brighter now that he has the vision to match his potential!

Please note: To protect the child’s identity as a minor, the name provided is not his real name.

Sources: Small Projects Foundation

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Experts Come Together to Restore Little Ollie’s Vision With Cataract Surgery! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

In two doses of good news from the Bona uBuntu Programme, the White Cane Day March united communities who walked in solidarity for visually impaired youth while a four-year-old gained his sight thanks to their help in getting him the most important surgery of his life!

Kwadwesi, South Africa (20 October 2024) — The streets of Kwadwesi teemed with enthusiasm and energy earlier this month as 263 learners, educators and community members banded together for the annual White Cane Day Youth March!

Hosted by the Bona uBuntu Programme, which teamed up with Khanynisa School for the Visually Impaired and Ilima Lombi—Kamva, the event brought together community members in the Eastern Cape to raise awareness about the challenges visually impaired individuals face and to promote a culture of accessibility and inclusion.

The Bona uBuntu Programme is an NGO that supports empowerment and education for visually impaired children in the Eastern Cape, while White Cane Day is observed globally and celebrates the independence of people who are blind or visually impaired. A big part of this independence comes from accessibility tools, hence its name—the white cane!

“This event is more than just a march; it’s a movement towards a future where visually impaired youth can thrive without limitations,” commented Robyn Fick, the Programme Coordinator at Bona uBuntu.

“We [walked] for their independence, for their right to access education, and for a community that embraces inclusivity.”

The day also featured musical performances from the Khanyisa School Choir, representatives from special schools, and mainstream schools in Kwadwesi, which were a true melting pot of solidarity.

In other uplifting news from the Bona uBuntu Programme, four-year-old ‘Ollie’ (not the child’s real name) has received cataract surgery that was needed to restore his sight after years of disappointment for his family due to a lack of resources.

Bona uBuntu helped the little one get an appointment with the ophthalmology department at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in East London within a week, and soon thereafter, he underwent the surgery that gave him his sight back!

Sources: Supplied; Bona uBuntu Programme 

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post White Cane Day March Empowers Visually Impaired Youth; Youngster Gains Sight appeared first on Good Things Guy.