Fahmin and Idaman, above, were born almost completely blind. Thanks to OBI, the brothers received surgery to restore their sight.

MUZOI, Indonesia – Living in the midst of the jungle surrounded by lush banana and cocoa trees is a beautiful scene to see.

But for Fahmin and Idaman, the sight of their village was something they had never been able to see – the brothers were born almost completely blind.

Fahmin, 7, and Idaman, 5, were born with cataracts. Their father, Abdul, realized his both his sons couldn’t see just a few months after birth. However, life as a farmer didn’t afford the family the luxury of having surgery to correct the problem.

Despite their disabilities, the two boys had a relatively normal life, with one exception – they were unable to attend school.

Thanks to Operation Blessing, the two brothers found help at a medical outreach where they both received surgery to restore their site.

After the successful surgery, the two boys can now attend school, something they both always wanted to do.

A two-hour operation was performed at a local hospital in Indonesia earlier this year on each of the children. By placing a lens on the eye and removing the cataract, the boys will gain better vision as they age and heal.

"This means I can go to school," Fahmin said.

Life has changed for the two brothers. No longer are they wandering the village bumping into trees to find their way around. And eating meals has taken on a whole new meaning.

"Because he could not see his food, Idaman (used to) put the food in front of his nose, smell it and then eat it," his father said. "I still cannot believe it – my children’s eyes are healed."

Fahmin and Idaman plan to attend school as soon as their eyes heal.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Be a part of OBI's ongoing medical relief efforts by making an online contribution to help those suffering from extreme poverty and sickness.

 

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