The power of vision

To someone who has next to nothing, medical care is a gift from higher up. I wonder what would happen if everyone were like this:

Dhanuk is third in line on the front row. As soon as the bandages are removed, her face fills with life. She leaps to her feet smiling and pulling her hands to her chest in a prayer position, a traditional Nepalese way of giving thanks.

After nearly a year of total blindness, Dhanuk drinks in the blue sky, the green grass and all the other patients around her. She easily counts fingers, and then Ruit asks her to squeeze his nose if she can see it. It only takes a second for her jump up and grab it with both hands. Applause erupts in this moment Ruit calls the power of vision.

Dr. Sanduk Ruit is a Sherpa born doc who pioneered a new method of removing cataracts - free of cost to the patient. I can only imagine how different out country would be if instead of looking at health care as some ingrained birthright we were instead so thankful for the teeny things. And also, of course, if we abandoned the make-more-money approach. After all, Ruit says, "this is really too good for money."

Read the entire story here.