Nelly

Nelly is 70 and lives in Zimbabwe. Her eye problems started over 20 years ago. At first her eyes were itchy and then her vision became cloudy. Nelly is a natural healer and tried herbal medicines to fix her sight, but they didn’t work.

With the loss of her sight, Nelly was unable to sew, to fetch water, or even carry out her chores at home. It wasn’t until her daughter checked her eyes that Nelly realised she had a cataract. Her family knew that a short operation could restore her sight. But in Zimbabwe they didn’t have access to the experts Nelly needed.

Motivated by love for their mother, Nelly’s children brought her to South Africa for the cataract surgery. But they soon realised that they didn’t have enough money to pay for the simple treatment that would change her life.

Nelly stayed in South Africa as she waited for her children to raise the money needed for the operation. Unable to travel alone, Nelly waited, her husband back home and her life on hold.

After a year in South Africa, Nelly’s husband heard about CBM’s work in their local area. Her children helped her back home and after an appointment at a district hospital she was referred for surgery.

Thanks to CBM supporters, Nelly visited an eye camp just one week later. Here she was finally able to have the expert operation she needed, free of charge. She was one of 30 people to receive the simple but life-changing operation in a single day.

With the bandage removed, the impact was instant.

I could not believe that I could see again. I managed to read all the letters on the chart.

Inspired to change her community and help others get the expert care they need, Nelly now spreads the word about eye health. Her role as a traditional healer gives her extra credibility when she tells others they should visit the hospital for their eye problems.

Nelly’s story is one of a life transformed and a community that has benefited. She has started to run a tuck shop and in the words of her granddaughter: “Now she can do anything!”