Emmanuel Thomas l Thursday, October 09, 2025
MADAGASCAR – BLIND for years, an elderly Malagasy mother and her daughter finally saw each other’s faces again thanks to a miracle 15-minute operation aboard a floating hospital.
Marie Jeanne, 80, and her daughter Germaine, who both lived in a remote village, had their vision restored in a tear-jerking reunion on World Sight Day.
The pair were suffering from severe cataracts, leaving Marie Jeanne unable to weave the raffia mats and hats that brought her joy, and Germaine unable to farm or care for her children.
“If I had a weak faith, I might have given up,” Germaine admitted.
Their eyes were so badly blocked by the condition that their pupils were no longer black, but ‘completely white,’ according to surgeon Dr. Guy Chevalley.
Ophthalmic Program Manager Ella Hawthorne added: “They could only see movement, just a hand waving in front of them. That was it.”
Voyage of Hope
The devastated family’s journey of hope began when a relative heard a radio broadcast about the Africa Mercy, a hospital ship operated by the international charity Mercy Ships.
Offering free cataract surgery to those in desperate need, the vessel was docked in Toamasina, Madagascar.
In a twist of fate, both mother and daughter underwent the quick, restoring procedure on the same day.
The real magic happened the following morning. Sitting side-by-side, with their eye patches removed, the pair looked clearly at each other for the first time in years.
Tears of Joy
What followed were uncontainable tears of joy as the blinding darkness that had shadowed their lives was finally banished.
A beaming Marie Jeanne said: “We no longer live in darkness. Our eyes can see, and our hearts are full of happiness!”
Ms Hawthorne called the moment “incredibly special.”
She added: “It was very emotional to see their happiness when the patches came off at the same time. What a blessing it is to help this family.”
Globally, an estimated 2.2 billion people have vision impairment, with cataracts remaining the leading cause of blindness, especially in poorer countries. But for Marie Jeanne and Germaine, life is back on track.
Marie Jeanne is now back to weaving her beloved raffia mats and hats, and Germaine is farming again, active in her church and caring for her precious children.
