How Happy Maya is to be Free of Cataracts
Maya Fauziah’s sadness due to cataracts finally turned into joy after being operated on by a team of doctors from Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) Indonesia. Now Maya is able to see well and is no longer ridiculed by her friends. She becomes one of the students who excel at school.
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The 111th Tzu Chi Health Social Service in Cianjur, West Java in 2016 brought changes and happiness to one of the patients. Maya Fauziah (15), a cataract patient who was 10 years old at the time, was successfully operated on by a team of doctors from Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) Indonesia at the health social work that lasted for three days (March 18-20, 2016).
Maya was able to join the Tzu Chi Health Social Service as a patient because her brother, Muhamad Yudi, could not bear the sight of his poor young sister’s suffering from cataracts. Coincidentally, Odik, a Village Development Officer (Babinsa) in Padaluyu Village, Cugenang District, Cianjur Regency, West Java provided information about the 111th Tzu Chi Health Social Work in Cianjur City. “Coincidentally, someone gave us some information. So we immediately went to the District Military Command (Kodim) (screening),” said Yudi.
Yudi did so without their father, Encang Irod’s knowledge since he was not at home at the time. “When we first talked to the family, they suggested that we wait for father to come home. However, I thought that it was a rare chance and the time was limited too, so I just took her (Maya) there,” said Yudi. Yudi did it all because Maya once went to a cataract surgery social service held by a social foundation but it failed. This was what made Yudi unwilling to waste time in order to avoid facing failure for the second time.
A doctor adjusted the position of the lights in the operating room before treating Maya Fauziah’s cataracts. She became the youngest patient at the Tzu Chi Health Social Service first held in Cianjur, West Java.
After the screening and other procedures, Maya was then handled by the team of doctors from TIMA Indonesia. Maya was unwilling to undergo surgery under local anesthesia, but after having some discussion with her family, the team of doctors from TIMA Indonesia then decided that Maya should undergo surgery under general anesthesia. Less than an hour in the operating room, the cataract in Maya’s right eye was successfully operated on.
After 5 years had passed, the team of doctors from TIMA Indonesia had a chance to revisit Maya Fauziah in her home, Kampung Kebonlamping, Padaluyu Village, Cugenang District, Cianjur Regency, West Java on November 20, 2020 to check on her condition. “Alhamdulillah, I’m so happy. After the operation, I no longer get ridiculed, I can see clearly. The right eye used to be able to see only white,” said Maya during the visit.
Before her cataract surgery, Maya had often been ridiculed by her friends. “My friends used to like to tease me very often, ‘ih her eye is white’,” recalled Maya.
Of course it made her sad because she was different from her friends. Furthermore, because of the cataract in her right eye, Maya who was in Grade 4 at that time often had difficulty reading when she was in school. “It’s also difficult to read because I could only see with one eye,” said Maya, recalling her condition 5 years ago.
5 years after the cataract surgery, Tzu Chi Medical Team visited Maya Fausiah’s home in Kampung Kebonlamping, Padaluyu Village, Cugenang District, Cianjur Regency, West Java to check on the condition of her right eye.
The medical team TIMA Indonesia was warmly welcome by Maya’s family in her home. Encang Irod (40), Maya’s father was very grateful that his daughter could join Tzu Chi Health Social Work at that time. “Honestly, I am very grateful to the Tzu Chi Foundation. My daughter was not able to see (with her right eye), but now alhamdulillah,” said Encang Irod.
When visited, Encang Irod also told about the condition of his daughter (Maya) before the cataract surgery. “[She] complained a lot. [She] did not look like the other kids. Well, she looked like she was depressed, while the other kids played here and there. Meanwhile, she only used one eye, so you can say that she was unconfident and often dispirited at home. After the operation, alhamdulillah her enthusiasm in learning improved,” said the man who works as a farmer.
Encang Irod’s effort in getting Maya’s cataract treated had been going on since his daughter was in Grade 2. After two years of effort, only then did Encang get the information about the Tzu Chi Health Social Work. “I could even say that I was already discouraged back then. However, alhamdulillah, we had some carmic affinity with the Tzu Chi Foundation and I was very grateful for that. Maybe it was basically the time for my daughter to change, to be able to see again,” recalled Encang Irod. “I’m very grateful and thankful for the (health social work) program by the Tzu Chi Foundation which is very helpful for the underprivileged people,” he added.
In addition to checking Maya’s condition, the Tzu Chi medical team also talked about Maya Fauziah’s eye condition with her father Encang Irod (right) and her brother (center).
The Tzu Chi medical team that visited Maya also had the chance to see the condition of her eyes. “Alhamdulillah, now her eyes are back to normal. Her parents also said that after the operation, their daughter was able to mingle with her friends without being ridiculed anymore,” said Weni Yunita, a member of the TIMA who is also the Coordinator of the Tzu Chi Health Social Work Patients after checking Maya’s condition.
Before the operation, Maya, who was only able to see with her left eye, was one of the top 10 students in her class. This achievement has improved so much since her eye surgery. Maya, who is able to see with both of her eyes, is now ranked 1st student in her class. “Even though she is a quiet child, she excels in her studies as her parents told us. In this condition, I hope that our little sister Maya can achieve whatever she aspires to become later,” said Weni Yunita.
When visited, she seemed very happy. Occasionally, she smiled while answering questions posed to her. Now she can join in activities well. Her vision is much different from previously as well. “Thank you to the Tzu Chi Foundation for operating my eye so I can see well,” said Maya happily.
Writer: Arimami Suryo A., Yuliati, Photo: Arimami Suryo A.
Translator: Nila Silviana
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