Girl, 12, born blind, sees again thru help of Mike A

A 12-year-old girl who never had the chance to learn to read and write due to inborn cataracts in both eyes has received a second lease for a normal life.

Mary Grace Beralde, of Barangay Paltao, Pulilan, Bulacan received the early Christmas gift yesterday when she was chosen as one of the beneficiaries of the monthly free cataract surgery project of the office of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

Almost blind since birth, Beralde was personally visited by Mr. Arroyo, along with the other beneficiaries of this month’s free surgery, at the Presidential Security Group Hospital in Malacañang.

Apart from the free surgery, which costs from P15,000 to P35,000 in private hospitals, Beralde and the rest of the beneficiaries received free medicines and lenses.

Their follow-up checkups will also be for free, all compliments of the office of Mr. Arroyo.

Dr. Benjie Abela of the Makati Medical Center led the doctors from the private sector who operated on Beralde and the rest of the beneficiaries for free.

The other doctors who participated in the surgeries were Dr. Federico Malubay of the Malacañang Clinic, the PSG Hospital medical staff led by Dr. Augustus de Villa and nurses and medical technicians from the Ephitha Foundation.