Vasemaca's story
Scroll downVasemaca, a six-year-old girl from Fiji, has been unnecessarily blind in her left eye since she was just three months old. For six years, Vasemaca’s parents tried desperately to find help, but the options were limited, too expensive or overseas.
For six years, Vasemaca's parents prayed that someone nearby could give their daughter back her eyesight.
As Vasemaca grew older, her blindness started impacting valuable parts of her childhood. She struggled to play with her friends, her teachers also noticed that Vasemaca was having a hard time reading and writing and that she was behind in her schoolwork. Day-to-day activities were becoming very difficult.
Because of this, Vasemaca’s mum Litia gave up her job to give more dedicated time to her daughter and support her full-time. Sometimes her homework alone could take up to three hours.
Litia and her husband grew so worried. Worried that Vasemaca would go completely blind if she didn’t get the urgent help they prayed for.
“I thought it was the end of the world for us. Both of us thought we can’t do anything. This is the end of it.” – Litia
Vasemaca was referred to the Pacific Eye Institute
Earlier this year, there was an eye screening at Vasemaca’s school, where they referred her to the Pacific Eye Institute (PEI) in Suva, Fiji. From here, Vasemaca was booked in to have eye surgery at a Children’s Outreach at PEI.
Litia couldn’t believe it. They had prayed for six long years and now those prayers were finally being answered -
“That day after the consult with Dr Elenoa, I went home with Vasemaca. I called my husband and told him, ‘Dear, everything is fine. She will go through surgery.’
On the day of Vasemaca’s surgery, her whole family went with her to the clinic; her mum, dad and her two brothers. They wanted to be with her to pray, and to make sure she felt safe.
“When they put her to sleep, I prayed a thousand prayers to God. I even cried; I was really nervous.” – Litia
When Vasemaca woke up, her dad was by her side, and everyone was clapping. They were so relieved that she was okay.
For Vasemaca, her surgery was painless, and she was so happy when she got home.
“Mum, I didn’t feel anything. I went to sleep, and when I woke up, I could see Dad.”
Vasemaca can now make her dreams a reality
After having her bandage removed, there were so many immediate improvements for Vasemaca.
She could see the pink colour of her school uniform clearly, she could see the TV from far away. She was more energetic and could play with her brothers outside without worrying about falling over or hurting herself.
The greatest realisation of all for Vasemaca was that she now had the chance to make her future dreams come true.
She jumped for joy and said:
“Mum, Dad, when I grow up, I will work here [at PEI]. I have to help other children who have bad eyesight, who have cataracts.”
Restoring Vasemaca's sight has changed her life, but it's also changed her mother's. She says she is so grateful for this gift:
“For donors to give, I think it is the best. It’s a worthy cause, because children, they are still growing, they want to have their eyesight like everyone else. It is a blessing that our daughter got the surgery. We always prayed about it, that she would receive her eyesight, and it eventually happened. We are very grateful for that.” -Litia
