Seeing is believing - A "Gift" of Life-Saving Surgery

Brian is 11 years old and lives in Entre Ríos, one of the provinces home to the first Jewish gauchos (cowboys) in Argentina in the late 19th century. Brian lives in a modest house with his parents and three siblings, whom he can now play with. Until a few months ago, Brian could barely see due to a condition that, apart from impairing his vision, put his life at risk.

Brian's family is one of the many victims of the Argentine economic crisis. Without sufficient means to support basic expenses such as food for their children, Brian's parents turned to the JDC for help. They have since been receiving food vouchers every month for the whole family.

Since both parents were unemployed or worked sporadic jobs, they found it impossible to afford the valve replacement surgery necessary to improve Brian's condition-an expensive operation without which Brian would have not survived.

His three siblings still have to help him, since he has low vision, but after the surgery and with the glasses, Brian's daily life changed and he has become a normal boy again. He not only attends classes with sighted children but also plays games like other children his age.

Not only did JDC help make it possible for Brian to have the surgery but also provided him with a pair of glasses specifically designed for patients with his rare condition. Brian is now able to study, watch TV and more importantly, practice his favorite sport: soccer.