Little Josue defies the odds and now has hope in sight!

With retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) it’s crucial that care is delivered within days of birth to prevent a lifetime of vision loss. With your support, we’re working with partners in Peru to provide urgent sight-saving care – and hope for babies and their families.

Josue’s mom, Rosa, had a traumatic pregnancy and birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Describing it as a “nightmare experience”, Josue’s doctors and her family wondered if the tiny premature baby would pull through.

The little boy, described as a “warrior” and “survivor” by his mom, spent three months fighting for his life in an incubator at our partner Trujillo Regional Hospital, with his parents unable to see him in his earliest days. But we’re pleased to report, thanks to advances in neonatal care, that Josue pulled through.

While this young boy faces other life-changing challenges caused by his premature birth, Josue will be able to grow up seeing his parents, sisters, and the world around him.

Premature babies are at risk of going blind from the oxygen treatment they often need to save their lives. His mom says: “They told me that he was going to be blind because of the time with medicinal oxygen, because a lot of time with artificial oxygen, there was the possibility of staying blind but that is what they told me, and he was born with retinopathy in second degree.”

After careful monitoring, regular check-ups and treatment, Josue was discharged in June this year with healthy sight.

ROP is particularly prevalent in Latin America and Southeast Asia – but few hospitals there have the training and resources needed to deliver the highly time-sensitive care. That’s why our efforts in these regions have focused heavily on training pediatric doctors and nurses to screen and treat newborns.

When a child is born prematurely, the blood vessels at the back of their eyes sometimes grow abnormally, permanently damaging the retina and causing vision loss or blindness.

But there is good news. With the right awareness, knowledge and equipment, ROP is entirely preventable. It can cost less than $5 to examine a premature infant for ROP – and less than $250 to provide sight-saving treatment to a newborn in need.

That’s why a limited-time matching gift opportunity – made possible by long-time supporter, Mrs. Leslys Vedder – is so impactful. Make your gift by 8/31 to help provide premature babies with the vision care they need.