A few years back I read a short story, where a visually challenged boy was sitting next to a man. That man was reading a book interestingly; this boy asked him “Can you give it to me, once you are done with it?” The man responded with surprise, “Are you asking for this book?”, the boy replied with a yearn in his voice “No, your eyes”.
This story made me realize, that I got the privilege of seeing this world and it made my life easy. I am enjoying the beauty of the vibrant colours around me and the smile of my loved ones. At that point I made up my mind that I should do something for the visually challenged.
I am working in ICU as a counselor and I often see patients dying. With grief counseling, I started counseling and convincing the expired patient’s family about eye donation. It was not an easy job, as, a few people will accept and many will deny. But I still am continuing to help as many as possible.
One day a five-year-old boy came to meet me with his father. He gave a rose and thanked me. I was puzzled, as I was meeting him for the first time. His father told me, by birth the boy had problem with his eyes and couldn’t see. He got eyes from one of the patients, whose family I had counselled, and he can see now. The Coordinator from Eye Bank had told them about me. I couldn’t stop my tears from flowing. No words can express my feelings.
Later I was awarded as “Sight Ambassador” from Shankara Netralaya for promoting Eye donation, but the smile of that little boy and the sparkle in his eyes were the ultimate award for my counseling.
“Light Up a Life, Donate your Eyes”.
Rajnibala
June 2023
