Somewhere up on the freezing
highlands of the Tibetan Plateau, a group of unfortunate people are struggling
daily with their hopeless experience of blurred darkness.
A team of HNA Brightness Action
set out on a venture to Nangchen, a Tibetan outpost at 4000m above sea level,
bringing sight improvement to inhabitants who suffer from cataract.
The Nangchen county resides on a
4000m plateau, inhabited by Tibetan shepherds and nomads. Long hours of excessive exposure to
ultraviolet radiation and low oxygen concentration of the highlands are
environmental factors that breed cataract complications. Those suffering from
cataract are mainly elderlies who are limited in their mobility.
Now I can see! My Village, My Home and My Children!
At the inauguration ceremony of
HNA Nangchen Brightness Action on 31 August, a Tibetan elderly woman expressed
sincere gratitude upon regaining her sights after one year of blindness. “It is
so amazing to be able to see my village, my home and my children again!”.
Wiping dry her tears of gratitude, she proclaimed in front of the camera, in
her native dialect, “Thank you, HNA!”
My dreams of attending my grandchildren’s wedding will be fulfilled!
He is a 100-year-old Tibetan
elder. Still looking spirited in his advanced age, he rejoiced with the
confirmation as a future candidate for cataract operations. “Finally, I can see
my grandchildren getting married!”
Racing Against Time for 14 Years : HNA Brightness Action
A volunteer ophthalmologist
remarked, “There are a lot of elderlies suffering from cataract. Over the last
three years, I witnessed many sufferers regaining their sight under HNA
Brightness Action and eradicate their lives from the inconvenience caused. These
elderlies have a strong will to be healed, many of them traveled over 100km
from mountainous regions to have their operations done. I just wish their
health can live up to this serious traveling!”
Another devotee of HNA Brightness Action is Li Xinzhang, the chief ophthalmologist of Qinghai Red Cross Hospital. “I have been hosting operations for HNA Brightness Action for 6 years. For the current year, a total of 100+ operations lasting 15 minutes each has been scheduled. To alleviate blindness from the elderly community here, we are racing against time.”
Their joyous smiles, our most prized reward
“Healthy people can never envisage the
excitement and gratitude these elderly people experience when they regain their
sights. At the same time, they are reluctant to share their feelings. But you
can always see and feel their hearts of joy through their smiling faces. These
are our best rewards for all the hard work.” The Director of Nangchen People's
Hospital would like to express his deepest thanks and admiration towards HNA
Brightness Action, volunteer HNAers and others who supported and contributed
towards this worthy cause. The benefits towards this remote Tibetan community
have been priceless.
12th HNA Nangchen Brightness
Action
Love that Inspires Hope
