Liberians afflicted by cataracts are experiencing the love of Jesus Christ through the hands of Samaritan’s Purse surgical teams.
Three-year-old Deborah is a little groggy and amazed after cataract surgery that gave her sight.
From her very first weeks, it was obvious that young Deborah’s curiosity and intelligence drove her to explore her surroundings and everything she could get her hands on. But something else was also obvious from very early on—Deborah could hardly see.
“She would get very frustrated trying to do even the simplest things,” Emmanuel said. “But even with her impairment, she is energetic all of the time and is quite a challenge to keep up with.”
After earlier consultations with surgeons and realizing he could probably never afford to get her the care she needed, he’d given up hope that she’d ever have full sight. Then Emmanuel heard about the Samaritan’s Purse cataract surgical team that would be coming to Liberia during the summer this year.
The young father, in his early 20s and raising Deborah in his parents’ home while attending agricultural school, brought his daughter to ELWA with hopes her sight would be improved.
“All she ever does is run around our home and play with everything she can find,” Emmanuel recounted, joyfully watching his daughter even then exploring the grounds of the hospital as they awaited the procedure he’d been hoping for, for so long. “She is my joy.”
Students Are Now Receiving Help in Many Ways
Other patients, such as 16-year-old Elijah, were not able to receive treatment at an early age. Elijah is one of nine students who came for surgeries from the Liberia School for the Blind, a rural boarding school Samaritan’s Purse has partnered with since 2022. We’ve provided students with school supplies, Braille Bibles, accessible computers, along with spiritual and emotional support.
Our medical team got to celebrate with cataract patients in Liberia as they removed their dressings after surgery.
Now we’ve also been able to provide a number of students with life-changing corrective surgery—those suffering with congenital cataracts.
“It’s been embarrassing to me to not be able to do the things that so many other people are able to do so easily,” Elijah said.
Despite the challenges he had faced for most of his life, Elijah has learned to praise God. And even as he awaited surgery, he told stories, cracked jokes, and sang songs with his friends.
“I just want to be able to help my mother,” Elijah said, talking about how she also was visually impaired. “Whatever happens, I believe, by God’s grace, He will make it all work out. God is the one who gives me life and joy.”
Cataracts Often Go Untreated in West Africa
Sadly, many Liberians live for years with cataracts—either from birth, injury, or from illness that affected the eyes. Cataracts—a clouding of the lens leading to impaired vision—can grow steadily worse and lead to permanent blindness if left untreated. In Liberia, where there are few services for those with limited sight, cataracts can also result in unemployment and increased risk of serious accidents. Social rejection and ridicule are common.
Scores of people received their sight in Liberia this summer through surgeries from Samaritan’s Purse.
Since 2017, Samaritan’s Purse has deployed highly skilled teams of surgeons, ophthalmologists, and nurses to Liberia where they have successfully completed hundreds of the procedures to restore sight to desperate men, women, and children. This year in June our surgical teams completed 150 surgeries at ELWA—all free of charge.
Many patients could never afford these procedures. Others have already spent all the money they could on other operations that didn’t work.
Patients Have Sight, Hope Restored
The day after their surgeries, Elijah, young Deborah, and her father Emmanuel joined the many others who were gathered with their eyes covered, waiting for what the morning would bring.
Elijah was drumming and singing, already grateful for what God had done in bringing him there. Then the first patch came off. Elijah began smiling and looking around him at his friends. He saw with new eyes as his smile grew.
Emmanuel held little Deborah in his arms as nurses removed the patches. Her eyes grew wide as she looked around. Emmanuel could see the difference immediately as Deborah discovered her sight.
“Thank you,” Emmanuel said. “Thank you. Praise God for you.”
Please pray for our ongoing work with cataract patients in various parts of Africa, including South Sudan. If you’re a medical professional interested in joining one of our projects, learn more here.
