A Mother’s Joy: How Andy Regained His Sight and Hope Through HopeCore’s Eye Health Program
Leah Gatwiri, a dedicated Community Health Promoter (CHP), is the proud mother of Andy — a young boy whose life has been transformed through HopeCore’s eye health program. Andy was born with bilateral cataracts, a condition that left him struggling to see clearly during his early childhood.
When Andy was about six months old, Leah noticed something unusual in his eyes. Concerned, she examined him closely and realized he might have a serious vision problem. As a mother of twins, she admits it would have been easy to miss the signs, as she was often overwhelmed caring for both Andy and his sister.
Thanks to the eye health education she had received from HopeCore as a CHP, Leah understood the importance of early screening. During a support supervision visit, she took Andy along, and a HopeCore nurse confirmed that he had an eye problem. That moment marked the start of a long but hopeful journey toward restoring his sight.
Restoring Andy’s Vision
HopeCore referred Andy to Chuka General Hospital, where the hospital’s ophthalmologist diagnosed him with congenital cataracts. The family was then referred to Kikuyu Hospital for assessment and then to Sabatia Eye Hospital in Vihiga County, which specializes in pediatric eye care.
Recognizing the urgency of Andy’s condition, HopeCore, in partnership with the Tharaka Nithi County Department of Health, stepped in to support the family throughout the process. The partnership covered transport and accommodation costs, enabling Leah and Andy to access treatment and follow-up services from Sabatia Eye Hospital, nearly 300 miles from home.
At Sabatia, thorough screening revealed that both of Andy’s eyes were affected. He was admitted, and the first surgery was performed on his left eye. After a successful procedure and recovery, a second surgery was performed on the right eye, and both surgeries were successful. Andy is now almost a year and a half old and can see clearly with both eyes. He plays, learns, and enjoys his childhood to the fullest.
“I encourage parents to seek early medical care if they notice any eye problems in their children, as early detection can change a child’s life,” says Leah, expressing her deep gratitude to HopeCore for their unwavering support that turned what once seemed impossible into a true story of healing and hope.
About HopeCore’s Vision Health Program
HopeCore’s Vision Health Program works to prevent avoidable blindness and improve access to quality eye care for children and communities across Tharaka Nithi County. Through regular school screenings, referrals, and partnerships with specialized hospitals, the program ensures early detection and timely treatment of vision problems.
Since its inception in 2020, the program has transformed children’s eye health by providing vision acuity screening to 144,028 students in our partner schools. Through these screenings, 4,581 students with conditions such as cataracts, refractive errors, and infections have been identified. So far, 1,200 children have received glasses, while those requiring advanced care have been connected to specialists — with surgeries fully funded for 10 children this year.
The initiative is championed by Kathy Sangster, HopeCore’s dedicated vision health partner, whose commitment to fundraising and partnership building has made sight-saving services possible for hundreds of children in the community we serve.
We remain deeply grateful for Kathy’s lasting impact and for the continued collaboration of our health team and partners such as the Tharaka Nithi County government. Together, we are helping more children, like Andy, see clearly and embrace a brighter future. Watch for more of Andy’s story!
