Amrit Maya, 74, from Gaurishankar Rural Municipality, became blind from cataract in her right eye two years ago and then her left eye six months ago. Her daughter Bal Kumari and son-in-law Sahadev brought her to the eye clinic by bus. The 47-km journey to Dolakha, which is at the foot of the Himalayas, takes two-and-a-half hours due to the narrow roads, which wind up and down through the mountains.

Amrit lives with her husband Gyan Bahadur Nepali, 70. The couple has six children—Bal Kumari is the only one married—six grandchildren, aged 10–22, and two great-grandchildren, aged two and one, although Amrit has never seen the one-year-old due to becoming blind. Amrit’s blindness made it difficult for her husband to take care of her on his own, so Bal Kumari and Sahadev sent their 13-year-old daughter Maiya to help care for her grandmother.

Maiya has remained in school but had to swap to the local government school in the same area as her grandparents. Because she is already enrolled, she will have to stay there even though her grandmother has regained her sight. Dr Sanduk Ruit performed Amrit’s surgery and removed both cataracts one after the other. The day after, when her patches were taken off, an emotional Amrit touched her daughter and son-in-law’s faces.

With tears in her eyes, she expressed excitement at being able to see the light and said she was looking forward to going home and doing whatever work she could, including feeding her goats and cow. She is also looking forward to looking after all her grandchildren including the one-year-old she has never seen. Amrit also fulfilled the promise she made herself before surgery, to dance again, and got up and danced in front of the room full of patients and surgical team.

Amrit’s daughter, Bal Kumari, said she was relieved her mother’s surgery was successful. Before, she had to take her mother everywhere and she was scared she might fall down. Now, her mother is independent again.