‘Who Are You?’ to ‘I See You’: Elizabeth’s Journey Back to Sight
When 80-year-old Elizabeth Msemwa speaks, her words carry the weight of suffering, resilience, and joy. Her journey from isolation and blindness to healing and hope is a testament to the power of compassion, dreams, and community.
Local photographer Daniel Msirikale shares the story of Tanzanian grandmother Elizabeth from a recent outreach hosted at the Chunya Regional Hospital and in partnership with Helen Keller International in Mbeya.
In her words, Elizabeth:
“My name is Elizabeth Msemwa. I am from Majengo. I am 80 years old.
“My problems started a while back. I was in Kilosa at the time. My eyes really hurt. My younger sibling was extremely harsh whenever I needed to go to the bathroom to relieve myself. I suffered alot. I suffered.
“My sibling began to verbally abuse me.
“Then my late husband appeared to me in my dreams and told me to return home to my children. He told me how could I stay with my sibling who is trying to kill you.
“She once told me to cross a river so she could drown me. That’s when people also told me to agree to cross the river when it has rained. She is trying to drown you.
“They told me to go back and so did my late husband in my dreams. He told me to return to my children. When I returned home, my eyes began to hurt and I couldn’t see to the point that when people visited me I could not recognize them and kept asking, ‘Who are you?’
“A guest had come to visit me and here I am asking, ‘Who are you?’
“They had to move very close for me to see them. At times all I would do was hear them. At times I would hear them and ask still, ‘Who are you?’ Still I wouldn’t recognize them.
“Until today, this is how I have lived.
“One day a woman came and told me to go to the hospital and that they were offering treatment. I told myself that I have to go get treatment and I’ll be able to see again. They said to me I will be fully healed. I will be able to see again and do my work.
“Because, let me tell you, at the moment even my bath water has to be fetched and carried to the bathroom for me. And still I can’t even see the water.
“I feel overjoyed.
“If you lived close I would give you a mat. I would tell you to take this mat so it may be of use to you and so you may also say that your grandmother gave you a mat.
“With this joy I will be dancing at the very front of the church. I will be dancing.
“And this is how I will dance. God is great. He is great!
“Even at the church, my pastor will be shocked. So will his wife and the entire congregation.
“I’m telling you, I will let them know!
“When the band is playing, I will follow them! I will follow them!”
Elizabeth’s healing is a powerful reminder that cataracts—one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide—are completely curable. Yet millions of people still live in unnecessary darkness simply because they lack access to care. Through our ongoing Cure Blindness efforts, we are working to change that. Our mission is to end avoidable blindness and restore not just sight, but dignity and hope, one person at a time.
