Three youths return from Venezuela with the gift of sight

Three happy students returned home from Venezuela this morning. When they left two weeks ago with a larger group of eye care patients,  they were suffering from strabismus, a condition commonly known as crossed-eye but when News Five’s Jose Sanchez met them at the airport, they were confident and sporting a new look.

Jose Sanchez, Reporting

Mission Miracle, an initiative of the Venezuelan government, recently brought back approximately seventy persons who received free medical care in South America. Though most returned, the last three patients touched down at the international airport today. Mission Miracle’s Coordinator in Belize says that these youths were afflicted with strabismus.

Emerson Guild, Belize Coordinator, Mission Miracle

Emerson Guild

“Three children ages seven, twelve and sixteen with the case of strabismus.”

Jose Sanchez

“What is strabismus?”

Emerson Guild

“Strabismus is a case where the children have cross eyes. We had specialists in Venezuela who volunteered to do this surgery for these children and they are going to be returning with straight eyes, which will be interesting for me because I have only been able to look at them with cross eyes. Now I will see them returning with straight eyes.”

joshua matute

Joshua Matute, Received Free Surgery

“Well I was a bit nervous but mostly I was, I had the courage to come up and say I wanted to do it to myself.”

Jose Sanchez

“Let me ask you, how did your classmates treat you before you went and took the surgery?”

Joshua Matute

“To say it in an easy way, a rude way like teasing, provoking.”

Jose Sanchez

“And now how do you feel since you’ve taken it. Do you see better?”

Joshua Matute

“Yes I see better and I feel happy, I feel better.”

Jose Sanchez

“Would you share your eyes to the rest of the country now?”

Joshua Matute

“Sure. (Removes sunshades).”

The ‘before’ picture and the ‘after’ smile highlighted the surgery’s success. The parents were the most nervous.

Ernesto Matute, Parent

ernesto matute

“We learned a lot on this trip to Venezuela. It’s encouraging to see that we come back to our country and he feels good. I was a bit scared but I picked up courage on the way.”

Jose Sanchez

“Before you left, did your son receive ill treatment from his peers?”

Ernesto Matute

“They used to want to try to intimidate him and call him ‘cackeye’. I think now we won’t be facing that and I hope it works out well.”

Jose Sanchez

“How old are you?”

rydell Martin

Rydell Martin, Received Free Surgery

“Seven.”

Jose Sanchez

“Were you afraid when you took the surgery?”

Rydell Martin

“Yes.”

Jose Sanchez

“How do you see now?”

Rydell Martin

“Betta.”

Jose Sanchez

“So what was the first thing you noticed differently after the surgery?”

Rydell Martin

“Train, car, everything I see.”

Jose Sanchez

“What are most looking forward to share with him?”

Orlen Martin, Parent

“I don’t know the excitement for the family to see the difference, it is a big difference compared to couple weeks ago and to take him back to school mek uh feel—to move around with the kids more confidently because now ih wah behave okay.”

Jose Alvarez, Received Free Surgery

jose alvarez

“The experience was ugly, really bad.”

Jose Sanchez

“What was the experience like with your peers, your classmates?”

Jose Alvarez

“They used to tease me a lot, at least I got along with them.”

Jose Sanchez

“And your vision what was it like?”

Jose Alvarez

“I still saw clearly but now I see much clearer now.”

Jose Sanchez

“If you don’t mind, can you share with the rest of the country your new eyes?”

Lesvia Hercules, Parent (Via Translator)

“She feels happy right now. She feels good, because everything comes out good and thanks to the lord.”

Jose Sanchez

“The program itself, how far does the Venezuelan government intends to take it?”

Emerson Guild,

“The Venezuelan government has already promise the Belize people and our government that they will coordinate along with our government. They care for all the cases in pterygium, cataract and in some of the selected cases, the Venezuelan government is willing to go all the way for the Belizean people right now.”

Jose Sanchez

“Even though the Venezuelan is providing for the cost of the healthcare, who pays for staying in Venezuela during this time?”

Emerson Guild

“The government of Venezuela pays full cost: the flight, the stay, the costs for food and lodging, medication; everything while were in Venezuela is taken care of is taken care of by the Venezuelans.”

The surgery may have taken place in Venezuelans but as Jose Alvarez and his mother embrace each other, it is clear that the love is taken care of at home.  Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.