Delphine Thought Her Independence was gone..

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Dear Friend,

Delphine is 78 years old. She is a farmer and market seller in a village near Antsirabe, Madagascar. She spent her life working the land, selling produce at the market, and providing for her children.

Her independence was her pride.

Then her vision began to blur. At first, she did not understand what was happening. Day by day, the light dimmed. By early 2025, Delphine was completely blind.

She could no longer see her food. She could not count her money. She could not recognize the faces of her children or the smiles of her grandchildren.

The woman who had always cared for everyone else now depended on them for everything. “I wanted to recover so that I could return to doing my work on my own without relying on my family,” she says.

Delphine being prepared for cataract surgery at the eye hospital in Antsirabe, Madagascar.

When her brother saw her suffering, he contacted the team at the Seva Canada-supported eye hospital in Antsirabe. An outreach worker came to her village and examined her. The diagnosis: cataracts. Treatable. Curable.

Delphine and her daughter travelled two hours by bus to the hospital. When the bandages were removed after surgery, Delphine opened her eyes.

And she could see!

She saw light. She saw faces. She saw her family again.

Today, Delphine is back home with clear vision. She has returned to her daily work and once again sells produce at the market. She can move freely, work proudly, and live independently.

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