When eight-year-old Mutoni boarded the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital in Kigali, Rwanda, she carried more than just the Orbis mascot, Seymour the Bear—she carried two years of discomfort, blurred vision, and a burning sensation caused by a growing mass on her lower eyelid.
The condition began when she was about six years old and gradually worsened, making it harder for her to see clearly. Yet, through it all, Mutoni faced each day with remarkable courage, refusing to let the problem shake her confidence among friends or classmates.
Her mother, Denise, has been by her side every step of the way, watching with admiration as her daughter remained resilient despite the pain. “I’m most excited to see my daughter happy and relieved after the procedure,” Denise said, beaming with hope as they arrived for surgery.
On the tarmac of Kigali International Airport, Mutoni’s life changed. Under the expert care of Orbis Volunteer Faculty member Dr. Ron Pelton, the mass was carefully removed in the Flying Eye Hospital’s state-of-the-art operating room.
The surgery not only promised Mutoni relief from the burning and vision problems—it would serve as a training case for local eye teams, equipping them with the skills needed to deal with any Mutoni’s of the future.
