53-year-old Chandrakanta regains sight this Diwali:Eye donation gives new life to 6-year-old Akriti, letting her see festive lights again

For 53-year-old Chandrakanta, this Diwali will be unlike any other. After losing her vision at the tender age of 12, she has lived in darkness for four decades. The 40 years of blindness were filled with profound struggles, both physical and emotional. “I have experienced nothing but darkness every Diwali for the past 40 years. My childhood, my youth… all of it was taken away by this darkness,” Chandrakanta recalls, her voice trembling with decades of suppressed pain. She vividly remembers the day she lost her vision—tears constantly flowed from her eyes, and a white veil suddenly covered her world, cutting her off from everything she loved. Her parents passed away during her blindness, and she never got the chance to see them for the last time. “My mother cared for me until her last moments, even though she was dying herself,” Chandrakanta says. The loss of her parents was devastating, and her education was disrupted, leaving her future uncertain. As her eyesight worsened over the years, her eyes began protruding, making even basic functions like closing her eyelids difficult. After her sisters married and moved away, Chandrakanta had no choice but to move into an old-age home, which became a turning point in her life. Renu Madam brings hope and light At the old-age home, Chandrakanta found an unexpected guardian in Renu Madam, a member of the Indore Society of Organ Donation and Amar Seva Ashram. Renu Madam nurtured her as a mother figure and promised to bring light back into her life. “After my own mother, Renu Madam has been like a mother to me. She instilled hope that I would one day see again,” Chandrakanta says, emotions welling up in her eyes. Renu Madam made it her mission to eliminate the darkness from Chandrakanta’s life. Dr. Ankit, who performed Chandrakanta’s corneal transplant, explains the challenge: “When Chandrakanta first came to us, her eyes were in critical condition. We hoped that with a high-quality donor cornea, her vision could be restored. After more than six months of waiting, a suitable cornea became available, and the transplant was performed successfully.” The day Chandrakanta opened her eyes post-surgery was nothing short of miraculous. “When the doctor told me I would be able to see again, it felt like electricity ran through my body. I kept asking them to remove the bandage. When it was finally removed, the first face I saw was that of the doctor, followed by Renu Madam and the staff at the ashram. That day marked the beginning of my new life,” she recalls, tears of joy streaming down her face. Sandeep’s journey: Returning to education Chandrakanta’s story of regained sight is inspiring, but she is not alone. Sandeep, a 30-year-old from Dhar, faced a similar battle. Due to severe eye problems, he had to discontinue his education after ninth grade. “My eyes always seemed to look upwards; I couldn’t focus at a normal level,” Sandeep recalls. By January 2024, his vision had almost completely vanished, and he struggled to recognize even his family members. Sandeep’s family took him first to Shankar Netralaya in Gujarat and later to Dr. Ankit in Indore. On 10 July 2024, Sandeep underwent a corneal transplant in his right eye. The results were life-changing. He can now see clearly, recognize people, and even read headlines written in large letters from a distance. “I feel like a new person,” Sandeep says. “I can see normally now and want to resume my studies. I am eager to read books and catch up on the education I missed out on because of my eyesight.” His voice reflects a newfound optimism, a hope for a future that once seemed impossible. Aakriti celebrates her first Diwali in four years The story of six-year-old Aakriti from Lalitpur is equally heartwarming. Aakriti had been blind for the past four years after a sudden eye injury caused her eyes to turn completely white. Her father, Rajesh, recalls the constant anxiety they lived with. “Only we know what these past four years were like. We constantly worried about her future—how she would study, whether she would be able to get married. Every day was filled with fear and uncertainty,” he says. Hope arrived when doctors from Hamidiya Hospital conducted a camp in their area. After evaluation, it was confirmed that treatment was possible. Aakriti was registered at the hospital, and just a month ago, she received a new cornea. Rajesh shares the joy of that moment: “When the doctors told us that Aakriti’s sight had been restored, it felt like celebrating Holi and Diwali at the same time. For the first time in four years, she can see herself, her parents, and her new clothes. This Diwali, our daughter can celebrate like other children.” The small act of receiving a donated cornea has transformed not just Aakriti’s life but also brought immense joy and relief to her entire family. Experts highlight challenges in corneal transplantation While Chandrakanta, Sandeep, and Aakriti were fortunate to receive donor corneas, many people in Madhya Pradesh still live in darkness due to systemic challenges in corneal transplantation. Experts highlight several issues: Despite these challenges, the number of corneal transplants in Madhya Pradesh has grown. For instance, Hamidiya Hospital received only 8–10 corneas in 2016–17, but after establishing an eye bank, the number rose to 64 corneas in 2024.
A ray of hope through organ donation The stories of Chandrakanta, Sandeep, and Aakriti underscore the life-changing potential of corneal donation. Each transplant brought renewed vision, independence, and joy to individuals who had been living in darkness for years. These cases also highlight the importance of donor awareness, efficient eye banks, and medical infrastructure to ensure more people can regain their sight. With proper coordination, Madhya Pradesh can address current limitations and extend the gift of vision to thousands more.