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The story of Christos-Rafael who got his sight back!
Christos-Rafael, our little friend from Athens, was just 2 months old when he had to face the biggest challenge of his life. One day, while being in his mother’s arms, his right eye became blurry. She immediately rushed him to the emergency room of a public hospital, where he was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma, a rare condition that causes total corneal opacity. As days went by, his left eye became blurry as well and he could no longer see. The attending doctors recommended the use of eye drops that would help reduce the eye pressure and help the blurring subside, however none of the medicinal treatments showed any results. The little boy had to be immediately subjected to a surgical procedure, since any delay could cause permanent sight loss. Even though his condition was urgent, his parents had to wait for quite some time before their child was admitted to the public hospital. Finally, the little baby was admitted and he was subjected to two consecutive surgeries; however the results were not satisfying, since nor the eye pressure or the corneal opacity would subside.
Christos Rafael’s parents came to a dead end, since the attending doctors were not optimistic about his condition. Their only hope was to find a surgeon specialized in the field of childhood glaucoma, who would be able to restore their baby’s eyesight. Desperate for help, the parents came in contact with us in order to receive help.
We immediately paid a visit to the family, assuring them that we would stand by their side throughout this ordeal and that we would do everything in our power so that their son would have sight back. Their wish came true thanks to Dr. Nikolaos Kozeis, the prominent eye surgeon and director of the Pediatric Eye Center of Greece. After evaluating the severity of this case, he offered to perform the surgery along with his medical team, pro-bono, using the most modern and specialized methods. However, the parents needed to come up with a way to pay the rest of the expenses. Without wasting any time, we immediately organized a campaign and within a few days we managed to raise the sum that was required for the baby’s hospitalization. We also booked their tickets and we rented a house where the family stayed until their son was discharged. Furthermore, we settled the family’s debts that were accumulated during their child’s hospitalization. We escorted the little guy to the clinic, where the doctors ran all the necessary tests. We stood by this family throughout this ordeal, providing them with moral and psychological support. The surgery was successful and soon after, his condition began to show improvement. A few days later, he underwent an additional surgical procedure, while he kept on receiving his prescribed medication.
Within just a few days, a miracle happened! The opacity began to subsite and the baby got his sight back! He is so excited to be able to see again and we are extremely moved that this little hero managed to win this battle, waiting so patiently to get his sight back. Things that are taken for granted for most people, for others constitute the greatest gift. By performing once again an act of kindness, we managed to make a little child smile!
View Christos-Rafael’s campaign
Christos-Rafael is a 4 month-old baby who has recently been diagnosed with congenital glaucoma in both his eyes. This rare condition requires surgery. If not treated, the boy could suffer permanent sight loss. So far the little baby has been subjected to 2 consecutives surgeries at a public hospital in Greece.
The baby’s medical records have been thoroughly evaluated by the organization’s pediatrician, Mrs. Noula Paraskevi.
Talking into consideration the severity of his condition, his family got in touch with the Pediatric Eye Center of Greece, which is situated in Thessaloniki, so that their child can undergo a final surgery which has very promising results. The eye surgeon and director of the Center, Dr. Nikolaos Kozeis, along with his medical team have immediately agreed to perform the additional required surgery, pro-bono. However, the parents cannot afford the rest of the expenses, such as the hospitalization cost and their stay in Thessaloniki.
Let us all contribute so that Christos-Rafael can get his sight back!
Any contribution, big or small, can make a difference!
Update 13.09.2021
Thanks to your support and your immediate response, Christos-Rafael underwent the operation on both his eyes. The surgery was successful, while the post-operation review indicated that the blurring has subsided. However, the outcome of the surgery will be determined by his response to the medical treatment that he will be receiving for a long period of time. Thanks to your defining contribution, Christos-Rafael and his family managed to stay in Thessaloniki during the surgery and the post-op procedures. They have now returned home, where this brave little baby will proceed with the necessary treatments.
The director of the Pediatric Eye Center of Greece, Dr. Nikolaos Kozeis, along with his medical team, who has performed this surgery pro-bono, will keep on monitoring the boy’s recovery.
We would like to express our gratitude to the surgeon and his team for their sensitivity and sense of altruism.
On behalf of the family, we would like to thank all of you for your touching support, since thanks to you we have managed to provide this little fighter with a better quality of life!
The “Act of Kindness” organization will stand by this family for as long as needed.
We will keep you updated.
Update 2.3.2022
Our beloved little guy has grown up and just before his first birthday, he got to see the world with his own eyes! Thanks to our prompt response and your defining contribution, Christos-Rafael got the chance to fight his rare eye condition – congenital glaucoma – and to get his sight back. We have just received the most priceless gift from this baby boy and his mother and we feel so moved and so proud for this little guy! We will keep on standing by this little hero and his family!
