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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