Paulina

Paulina López Pérez, 60, lives in Florida de Opatoro, La Paz: mountainous coffee-growing country a several hours bus ride from Comayagua.

Paulina came to the Medical Center for surgery after having been diagnosed with bilateral cataracts. The lenses of both eyes were completely clouded to the point of blindness, and she needed assistance to make her way through SBJ on the day of surgery.

Dr. Richard Seeger noted that the cataracts of the patients of the surgical mission were much more advanced than is typically seen in the US, where surgery is usually done while cataracts are still small. Paulina had the cataract removed from her right eye.

It was an overwhelming moment during the post-op exam when Paulina's eye was uncovered and she realized that she could see again! The day after surgery she was able to walk out of the Center unaided. The March 2007 mission was the first at St. Benedict Joseph to offer eye surgery.