Two-year-old Kehinde Oluwafemi lives with his family in Nigeria. Before looking at him any Nigerian could tell that he is a second born twin and that his brother’s name is Taiye as he is named in accordance to Yoruba tribal custom. Though they look almost identical, their fates were totally different. The elder twin always runs around while the small twin needs to be very cautious with every step due to cataract!

When Kehinde was just 3 months old Shola noticed that something was very wrong with his eyes. They appeared bloodshot and she noticed what she described as a cloud growing over his eyes. Her older sister works as a cleaner at the hospital and arranged for Shola and Kehinde to see a doctor in the ophthalmology department. As luck would have it the doctor she was scheduled to see was Dr. Dupe – head of ophthalmology at the hospital. Dr. Dupe was trained and mentored by ORBIS. Dr. Dupe told Shola all about ORBIS and invited her to bring Kehinde to meet the Flying Eye Hospital team of expert volunteer doctors.

Shola had been worrying about Kehinde for a long time before meeting ORBIS. She wants Kehinde to have the same opportunities as his brother so they can see and learn and play together. She smiled sweetly and said; ‘I dream for him to have clear eyes and a future’.

They dutifully returned on the appointed date a few weeks later. Shola found the medical experience quiet daunting and unfamiliar so she held tight to her son and gently soothed his tears as he was examined.

The operation was performed by Dr. Itay Ben-Zion – ORBIS volunteer paediatric ophthalmologist – and it went off without complications. Little Kehinde seemed like a totally new child in the days that followed his surgery. He danced and waddled around the ward seeking hugs from any obliging arms. ‘Thank you so much’ is all Shola could manage in English to express her huge gratitude to ORBIS, Dr. Dupe and Dr. Ben-Zion.