Blind child gets new lease of life |02 December 2017

“Mersi bokou tonton Clifford, pti Zezi ek tou dimoun ki’n ed mwan”.

These were emotional words from Aurria Barbé yesterday as she ‘officially’ wore her new eyewear which allows her to see.

It was the beginning of a new life for Aurria.

Blind since birth, six-year-old Aurria Barbé yesterday put on her new eSight eyewear, a gift from ‘Make a Child Smile’, at the School for the Exceptional Child where Aurria is studying.

It was Clifford Mondon, mastermind behind the ‘Make a Child Smile’, accompanied by Aurria’s grandmother who fitted Aurria with her new eyewear.

During the ceremony H. Savy Insurance (HSI) also donated a cheque for R10,000 which will go towards activities being held tomorrow on the occasion of the International Day for People with Disabilities.

As part of these activities a mass for people with disabilities will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception where Aurria will be expressing her gratitude for the donation.

The day will continue at the Paradis des Enfants with fun on the programme.

It is ‘Make a Child Smile’, along with other associations, which are organising the event.

Aurria also received an envelope from the Abhaye Valabhji firm.

Face painting, snacks, lunch and entertainment were also on the agenda that day.

Everything is new for Aurria as it will be the first time she will be seeing people, fauna, flora, colours but she has enthusiastic and dedicated parents, relatives, teachers who are willing to help her.

“It was in March this year that family members approached me to assist them in having Aurria undergo an operation to allow her to see. It has been a very difficult process. She went for the operation in India but was told by surgeons it was too late as the nerves in her eyes are dead. We didn’t give up and discovered there was a special eyewear that Aurria could wear to make her see but was very expensive costing US $20,000,” said Mr Mondon.

He said Aurria went back to India to try the eyewear and was able to see her mum for the first time since her birth six years ago. Then she returned to Mahé without the eyewear but ‘Make a Child Smile’ continued to do its best to have the eyewear for Aurria. Finally they got one from a Canadian firm at a much lower price. Then another hurdle happened where the company did not agree to send it here and it was a Seychellois living in Canada who was about to come to Seychelles, who brought the eyewear over.

Expressing her appreciation, her grandmother said Aurria always told her: “Grandma one day I will be able to see”.

She had words of thanks for Joseph Sinon where it first started, and Mr Mondon for persevering to make it happen, and all involved like those who had Aurria in their prayers.

Her grandmother said when Aurria first wore her eyewear on Wednesday they went exploring in town.

“When she first wore her eyewear on Wednesday, we went on a tour in town. Aurria was so emotional. She kept saying she has seen cars, pick-up. Then we visited a friend’s shop where Aurria said ‘aunty there are lots of things at your place’,” her grandmother recounted.

But, she added, Aurria cannot decipher which is which but she said her grand-daughter will get all the help she needs to achieve that.

She also had words of gratitude to all teachers who have helped her.

Representatives of HIS and Abhaye Valabhji (Pty) Ltd handing over their donations