16/07/2026
Yesterday, we met Thembisa at her homestead in Zithulele, deep in the heart of the Eastern Cape. As we sat with her and listened to her story, we were reminded just how much we take our sight for granted.
Thembisa is living with bilateral cataracts and has gradually lost much of her vision. Today, she can no longer recognise who enters her home. Her caregiver told us that she often starts conversations with the family’s livestock, mistaking them for the loved ones caring for her. She has been knocked over by a cow, suffered numerous falls, and lives with the constant fear of getting hurt.
The simplest daily tasks have become impossible. She cannot dress herself, prepare or eat a meal independently, or move safely around her homestead. Once self-sufficient, she is now completely dependent on her family for almost everything.
But this week, hope arrives.
Thembisa is one of 67 patients receiving sight-restoring cataract surgery. A procedure that takes less than an hour could completely transform her life. For Thembisa, this is more than surgery. It is the chance to reclaim her life.
To our incredible donors and partners: thank you. Because of your generosity, Thembisa and many others are being given the priceless gift of sight.
Give the gift of sight, donate today 🔗 https://cbnsouthernafrica.org/operation-blessing-lcs/
