It is every parent’s dream for their children to be born healthy and strong. However, there are times when fates decide otherwise and their worst nightmare comes true just like this mother whose daughter was born blind and deaf. Determined to ensure her daughter could live and communicate well like other normal children, this strong mother did something that even doctors thought was impossible.
Nicolly Pereira from Santa Catarina, Brazil was diagnosed with paediatric glaucoma, a condition where the optic nerve is damaged due to high pressure inside the eyeball which often leads to severe vision loss in children.
For Nicolly, the abnormal pressure in her eyeballs caused fluid buildup in both of her eyes and ears.
This poor baby could only communicate with her mother, Daiana, through touch: gentle stroking and hugging
Initially, she had gone through several operations to restore her sight and hearing but the operations were unsuccessful.
However, her mother did not give up and she began to fundraise so that Nicolly could get another treatment and undergo surgery at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Thanks to Daiana’s viral post on her Facebook along with the help from the Jackson Health Foundation’s International Kids Fund and several generous donors, she was able to raise US$ 17,000 for Nicolly’s operation.
Following the fundraising, Nicolly underwent a three-hour operation at the health institute which was performed by Dr. Alana Grajewski
The severity of Nicolly’s glaucoma was described by Dr. Grajewski as ‘extreme’ and ‘never before seen’
“When she arrived, I felt I had made a mistake, because normally when the children arrive, they have some sort of vision that’s measurable. We have a technician look at them initially and … they wrote down that Nicolly couldn’t see anything, not even a light,” Dr. Grajewski said.
The high-risk surgery included Dr. Ramzi Younis, a paediatric ENT specialist at UHealth draining the fluid that had been accumulated in Nicolly’s ears which had prevented her from hearing. The procedure alone took 30 minutes to be done.
Thankfully, the surgery was successful. Even though it did not fully restore her sight as Nicolly has to wear glasses because of her short-sightedness, she can now hear and see just like other children.
“The only word that can be used to describe the feeling is ‘God,’ My daughter is free now. She now shines more than before. She has now become a reference for people who didn’t believe in miracles,’” Daiana told Miami Herald
Now, Nicolly is able to stand unaided and she loves singing.
It was not only Daiana and Nicolly who were touched by the medical miracle, Dr. Grajewski was also moved by the little girl’s recovery.
“All of a sudden, she realized, ‘Oh, my gosh, that’s my mom,’ and her mother could tell the recognition. It was just one of those priceless moments,” said Dr. Grajewski
Watch the heart-warming and emotional moment when Nicolly finally sees her mother for the first time in the video below. Warning: You might need tissues
If you like this article, why not click ‘Like’ and ‘Share’ it with your friends and family!
