Rajni

Delhi, India

Age 20

Rajni’s story is one of hope, disappointment, and hope again. Born blind in both eyes, only able to see a little light, Rajni worried that she would never be able to study the great Hindi literature that she loves so much. Doctors in several hospitals told her that her optic nerve was permanently blocked, and that she would never see again. But someone referred her to Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, or SCEH, a large eye care system, based in Delhi, with a number of branches around North India.

Ten years ago, at the age of ten, she had a cornea transplant that gave her vision for a short time before the graft failed and plunged her back into darkness. It’s not at all uncommon in India that first grafts fail, for a variety of reasons. Her brothers would walk her to school, where she tried to learn everything by memorizing it. She wanted to study, and she wanted to study badly, but she was extremely frustrated by her blindness.

Her referral to SCEH gave her back hope for the first time in many years. SightLife’s Global Programs staff works closely with this hospital system’s eye bank staff to increase the number of transplantable corneas they can make available in their community. Because there were more corneas available, Rajni was able to have her surgeries.

When the bandages were first removed, she could see the nurse’s face, though it was not particularly clear. She was happy with that, but within three days, her sight improved so much, she could actually thread a needle!

About two years ago, she married Mintu, a rickshaw driver and part-time decorator. She is happy that her new cornea is helping her to deal with her daily roles as a wife. Rajni hopes to find a job to support her new family and become independent.

And her new vision is expanding her hopes in other ways. Now 20, Rajni is newly self-sufficient. She is teaching herself to read again. When we first met her, she was snapping pictures with her cell phone. Her dream is to become a photographer, and visit America. Now, she can see the world.