Born premature, Fernanda’s sight was saved by expert eye-care

My story

When Fernanda’s mother gave birth to her at 28 weeks, she was less than half the weight of an average baby.

Now eight months old, Fernanda is a happy baby. However, without the immediate eye-care she received when she was just over two months old, Fernanda would not be able to see.

In countries such as Peru and Brazil, premature babies like Fernanda are at high risk of blindness caused from Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), an eye disease which can cause scarring and retinal detachment.

Fernanda was extremely vulnerable. She needed to stay in the neonatal unit of the Huacho Hospital near Lima in Peru for more than a month. Although premature babies in middle income countries receive medical attention, there is often not the expertise needed to protect children from ROP - with enormous repercussions on a child’s quality of life.

How we helped
Thanks to the work of the Christian Blind Mission and Seeing is Believing, Fernanda received her first eye examination at 45 days old. Doctors from the Damos Vision Institute diagnosed Fernanda with ROP so they continued to closely monitor her condition. Soon after, her ROP became severe so she received treatment.

Fernanda now has full sight, and will be able to live a healthy life despite her premature birth.

To help us to help more premature babies receive the care they need, please donate.