Give me joy for Christmas

Since about four weeks ago, I have been feeling quite uneasy about two things. First, out there, in this city, there are hundreds of blind men and women whose blindness can be reversed by simple surgery. Yes, they can be made to see again! Two weeks ago, a charity organisation decided to support surgery for 150 such persons in honour of one of their members who turned 70. Only one condition was attached, we were never to mention the name of the celebrant or the donors. We did just that. We went on air to make announcements for free screening for those with eye problems.

The turnout was massive! In three days, over 2000 people came forward out of which over 250 cases in need of sight restoration surgery were identified. The first 150 cases were the lucky ones and had surgery. Turning back the not so lucky ones was heart rendering and reminded me of this story (copied word for word) from a WhatsApp message sent to me by a friend.

Unfortunately, neither the source nor the author is known and appropriate acknowledgement is impossible. Perhaps it will touch you as it has touched me.

“I was walking around in a Big Bazaar store shopping when I saw a cashier talking to a boy who couldn’t have been more than five or six years old. The cashier said, ‘I’m sorry, but you don’t have enough money to buy this doll.’ Then the little boy turned to the cashier and asked, “Are you sure I don’t have enough money?’’

The cashier counted his cash once again and replied, ‘You know that you don’t have enough money to buy the doll, my dear.’ The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand looking dazed.

Finally, I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to give this doll to. ‘It’s the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much. I wanted to gift her for her birthday. I have to give the doll to my mommy so that she can give it to my sister when she goes there.’

‘His eyes were so sad while saying this. ‘My sister has gone to be with God. Daddy says that mommy is going to see God very soon too, so I thought that she could take the doll with her to give it to my sister…’

• Nigeria loses N80bn to road accidents annually —FG

“My heart nearly stopped beating. The little boy looked up at me and said: ‘I told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her to wait until I come back from the mall.’ Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where he was laughing. He then told me ‘I want mommy to take my picture with her so my sister won’t forget me.’ ‘I love my mommy and I wish she doesn’t have to leave me, but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister.’ Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes.

“I quickly reached for my wallet and said to the boy.  ‘Suppose we check again, just in case you do have enough money for the doll?’ ‘OK’ he said, ‘I hope I do have enough.’ I added some of my money to his without him seeing and we started to count it. There was enough for the doll and even some spare money. The little boy said: ‘Thank you God for giving me enough money!’ Then he looked at me and added, I asked last night before I went to sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll, so that mommy could give it to my sister. He heard me! ‘I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn’t dare to ask God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose. My mommy loves white roses.’

I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I started. I couldn’t get the little boy out of my mind.

“Then I remembered a local newspaper article two days ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a truck, who hit a car occupied by a young woman and a little girl. The little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a critical state. Was this the family of the little boy? Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the newspaper that the young woman had passed away. I went to the funeral home where the body of the young woman was laid in state before her burial. She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest. I left the place, teary-eyed, feeling that my life had been changed for ever. The love that the little boy had for his mother and his sister is still, to this day, hard to imagine. And in a fraction of a second, a drunk driver had taken all this away from him.

Would you in the spirit of Christmas bring joy to the over 100 people in need of sight restoration surgery? You may send your contribution to Eleta Eye Institute Foundation,  GTB Account no 003 074 1307. Merry Christmas to you all as you join me in giving joy to others.