A 7-year-old West African boy who went blind can see again, thanks to life-changing eye surgery provided by the charity Mercy Ships.
Mamadou, whose last name was not given, was born with bipolar disorder, a condition in which cataracts develop in both eyes before or soon after birth.
If left untreated, this condition can lead to complete blindness in some cases.
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“We suspected that the cataracts were already there when Mamadou was born, but they slowly started to get worse,” Paul Rudalevicius, an eye surgeon who volunteers with Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone, told Fox News Digital.
A 7-year-old West African boy who went blind can see again, thanks to life-changing eye surgery provided by the charity Mercy Ships. (SWNS)
Cataracts and malnutrition are common causes of the condition, the doctor said.
Mamadou, who is from Waterloo, Sierra Leone, “couldn’t see much,” according to Ella Hawthorne, an ophthalmologist who also works with Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone.
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“He could see that there was a light being turned on, but he couldn’t even tell that a hand was being moved in front of his face,” he told Fox News Digital.
“Of course he couldn’t see the world around him.”
Mamadou’s mother, Salematu, recalled the bad treatment her son received because of his poor eyesight.
Mamadou is pictured before receiving treatment at the Mercy Ships charity. It was difficult to walk because he tripped over things, and he couldn’t read and write very well. (SWNS)
“His friends were always teasing him, and laughing at him because of his condition,” he told Fox News Digital. “He was going to school, but he couldn’t see or write properly.”
The boy had trouble walking and picking up things, and was very sensitive to sunlight.
Life-changing surgery
Salematu tried many times over the years to get his son the surgery he needed, but local hospitals failed. Over time, his vision worsened.
Then Mercy Ships docked its hospital ship, Global Mercy, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, to provide safe surgeries to residents free of charge – and Mamadou was chosen.
“It was so exciting to see him look around and see the world for the first time.”
Hawthorne remembers his first encounter with the boy.
“Meeting Mamadou during patient selection here in Sierra Leone was special,” he told SWNS.
“He’s nice and quiet at first, but when you get to know him better, he comes out of his shell and gets you involved.”
After the surgery, doctors gave Mamadou a pair of UV sunglasses to wear as he got used to his new vision. (SWNS)
Time was the essence of Mamadou’s surgery, Dr. Rudalevicius commented. “If the cataracts are not removed quickly enough, the brain cannot learn to see.”
On February 7th, assisted by a team of medical volunteers, the doctor performed a minor cataract surgery.
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Although the process lasted only two hours, it “represented the beginning of a new vision and future for Mamadou,” according to the Mercy Ships report.
When the eye scars were removed the next day, it was confusing and overwhelming at first, Mercy Ships noted, which is a common reaction in children.
Mamadou is pictured after eye surgery at the charity Mercy Ships. Time was of the essence in Mamadou’s surgery, his doctor noted. (SWNS)
“He looked around, trying to understand new information and identify unexpected things,” the release said.
“His mind was not used to processing such a high level of visual activity – but after seeing the crowd around him smiling and moving, Mamadou immediately joined in, returning it with his bright and lovely smile.”
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Doctors have given Mamadou UV sunglasses to wear as he adjusts to his new vision. The boy started playing with toys, coloring and riding a toy motorcycle around the ward.
Mamadou is undergoing surgical treatment at the charity Mercy Ships in October 2024. (SWNS)
“Being able to see the patches removed from his eyes was an absolute blessing and privilege,” Hawthorne told Fox News Digital.
“It was great to see him looking around and starting to see the world and be able to find information around him.”
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“It was very special, and you could see the excitement that was starting to build inside of him. It was a really good reminder of why I’m here and the impact our work has.”
Looking ahead
A month after Mamadou regained his sight, the boy and his mother returned to the ship to “celebrate sight, an event for patients who have received successful eye surgery,” according to Mercy Ships.
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Salematu shares relief and happiness with the result.
“My boy sees me!” he said. “My son can go back to the community and talk to other children!”
After the operation, the boy started playing with toys, coloring and riding a toy motorcycle in the ward. (SWNS)
“Unlike before, Mamadou can still walk without skipping steps or falling, even when the sun is up.”
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Salematu hopes that one day his son will grow up to be a doctor and make a difference of his own, according to the statement.
Dr. Rudalevicius added to Fox News Digital, “I hope he’ll be able to go to school, learn, play with other kids, and in the future maybe support his family.”
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