Wednesday 1 October 2014

A Million Miracles

I wrote a little while ago what my sight means to me

Eye health an eye issues are prevalent in our family.  Later this afternoon myself and Ruby are off to the opticians to get our regular check-up and to have digital retina photography to check on our eye health.  She is under a specialist doctor because of issues with her eye muscles.  My grandmother has recently had eye surgery, there are cataracts in our family and our uncle has been registered blind for many, many years.  So we're well aware of the importance of sight, and conscious of how lucky we are in this country to have a health service and support to look after us.

Many other people in the world are not so lucky.

Charity SightSavers are launching a new campaign called A Million Miracles to raise £30million in order to deliver 1 million cataract operations in some of the poorest parts of the world.  80% of blindness could be prevented or cured. 

The ‘Million Miracles’ launch event is an innovative, live digital storytelling event that will, via LIVE Google Hangouts from Malawi, Africa and traditional media & other social media channels, take the global audience on an emotional and inspiring journey.

You'll meet Mr Winesi who, due to bilateral cataracts, has been totally blind for two years. He has never seen his grandson Luca, and misses seeing his beautiful wife Namaleta. He can no longer work and provide for his family. In a few months their food stores will run out and they will go hungry as he is unable to work.


It needn't be this way. All it takes is a 5 minute operation that costs £30 pounds to change his life, and the lives of his family.

Join us on the 8th October at 1.30 UK time as one of the few cataract surgeons in Malawi delivers the 5 minute life-changing operation. Hosted by UK YouTuber star Doug Armstong you'll meet the Mr Winesi, and all the health worker heroes delivering this vital work. Click here at 1.30 to watch live.


Then join us on the 9th October at 1.30 UK time as we removed the bandages and Mr Winesi can see for the very first time. He will be able to see his wonderful wife, and hold and see his grandson Luca for the very first time.



Malawi has just 1 eye surgeon for every 4.25 million people and Dr Gerald, who is performing the surgery on Mr Winesi, is the only paediatric surgeon in the whole of Malawi.


Using satellite technology to broadcast live from rural Malawi this project will push the boundaries in live storytelling.

Please join us and follow Sightsavers on Twitter @Sightsavers and on Facebook and watch the live broadcast on G+.

15 comments:

  1. Like you, I have written about what my sight means to me previously and the work that Sight Savers do is amazing. Sharing this now x

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm also joining in this important campaign, it's not until you close your eyes and think about not being able to see that it hits you just how important this sense is to us.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such an important campaign and such a small amount to pay to be able to restore somebody's sight. We take things like this for granted over here in the UK but we don't know how lucky we really are.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Beautifully written as always Liz, thank you for adding your voice and your experiences - it really brings the message home. xxx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow that statistic is just, well wow. I'll be watching for sure - very moving post x

    ReplyDelete
  6. It is incredible that such a small amount of money can make such a life changing operation happen. I hope your appointment went well too.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Such a great campaign! Well done you for bringing awareness and helping with it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. oh my gosh, that's heartbreaking. Such a wonderful cause to support. xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. I hope Ruby's appointment went well too. xxx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh my goodness - I TOTALLY take my sight for granted. I had an eye operation aged 8 which changed my life. Great cause x

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh man how emotional is that going to be! Great post, will try and remember to watch it on g+

    ReplyDelete
  12. That's a really powerful post. Thanks so much for taking the time to write it and for supporting our campaign. We really appreciate it. Hope your eye tests went okay!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow! Great post Liz, can't wait to see the outcome.

    ReplyDelete
  14. To answer this question honestly, could take some extensive scientific research, so we're going to need to stick to the basics and try to simplify the situation. un curso de milagros recursos

    ReplyDelete
  15. In this series of articles, we have been discussing specialness and more specifically spiritual specialness as it is becoming a prevalent form in the Course community. non dual teacher

    ReplyDelete