Bright future ahead for Solace Dube

The future is a little brighter for six-year-old Solace Dube after doctors from Bedford Gardens Hospital gave her the gift of sight.

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Ophthalmologist Dr Ebrahim Mia led the team that operated on Solace’s eyes.

He said Solace suffered from bilateral congenital cataracts, rendering her blind in both eyes.

“When she first came to see me in mid-March, Solace could only distinguish between light and dark,” said Mia.

“She could navigate her own space at home but struggled in unfamiliar areas including school.”

Mia said the family could not afford the surgery that was required for the little girl to see again.

“There was something so special about Solace. She’s such a bright little girl. I knew giving her the gift of sight would change her life forever.”

After talking to the hospital manager, it was agreed the procedure would be done for free.

Solace was booked in for her life-changing operation on April 25 and underwent a cataract removal and lens implant.

On Tuesday, she returned to Mia for a follow-up, where she and her mother, Nokuthula Mpofu, met with the NEWS.

Nokuthula said she and her family were grateful beyond words to the doctors and staff at Bedford Gardens.

“I cannot thank anyone enough for what they have done,” she said.

Nokuthula said she first noticed something wrong with her daughter’s vision when she was five days old.

“The nurses at the clinic said it was hard to see problems in the eyes of a child so young, but I just knew.”

As Solace grew up, her mother visited several specialists and was referred to Helen Joseph Hospital for surgery.

“The operation on Solace’s eye was postponed over and over again and everyone kept telling us to pray for it to go away.”

At the beginning of March, Solace’s Grade One teacher told Nokuthula Solace struggled to see what was written on the board in her class.

“Her eyes had become so bad; we knew we had to get her the help she needed.”

By chance, Nokuthula ran into a woman she worked with who recommended she visits Mia.

“On March 16, Dr Mia confirmed Solace would need surgery. We were terrified because you hear so many horror stories of people who go for surgery,” the mother said.

She added that the woman who recommended Mia said she trusted the doctor and that he would do everything he could to help Solace see again.

“I will always be so grateful. I don’t know how I would ever be able to repay the doctor and his amazing staff for everything they have done for us.

“Not once did I feel like I was in a hospital. Everyone made us feel as though we were at home. Now my daughter has a bright future ahead of her,” Nokuthula said.

Mia said: “I hope this changes Solace’s life for the better.”

Solace told the NEWS she enjoys playing with her sister and dolls and hopes to be a doctor when she grows up so she can help others.

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