Seeing Again: Midu Mohammed’s Story of Resilience and Renewal
“Losing my vision was terrifying,” Midu shared. “It felt like I was losing control of my life.” Local photographer Daniel Msirikale shares the story of Tanzanian Midu Mohammed from a recent outreach hosted at the Chunya Regional Hospital and in partnership with Helen Keller International in Mbeye.
In his words, Midu Mohammed:
“My name is Midu Mohammed, a 34-year-old resident of Singida, Tanzania. I have been blessed with two wives and as a result two families; each with one son and daughter. Life made sense before even with its challenges. I was a happy man and I believe my family was happy as well. I was a petty trader dealing with a variety of goods and products such as charcoal and essential household supplies. About two years ago, everything changed when I began to lose my eyesight on my left eye. It started slowly but soon, I could barely see from it and it threw my world completely off balance.
Losing my vision was terrifying. It felt like I was losing control of my life and had to give up on my main businesses. I became a street hawker at some point then switched to farming tobacco, but it was never enough. The financial strain was immense, and I felt like I was failing my two families.
My aunt, who has always been a pillar of support, sold all her cows to pay for my medical bills. She sacrificed everything she had, hoping it would help me see again. But nothing worked, and my vision continued to deteriorate. We were both heartbroken, and I felt a deep sense of hopelessness.
One day, I heard about an outreach program in Mbeya that offered cataract surgeries. It felt like a glimmer of hope in a very dark time. Despite my fears, I decided to make the journey from Singida to Mbeya. The idea of surgery was frightening, and I was scared of what might happen. But after doing some research and talking to others who had undergone the procedure, I realized there was nothing to be afraid of. I placed my trust in the doctors and in God.
This surgery is a turning point in my life. I am nervous now to see the results tomorrow when they take off my bandage, but the medical team has been incredibly supportive and uplifting. When the bandages are finally removed, I think it will feel like I am being reborn. For now, I can only wait but I trust that God is on my side.
Regaining my full eyesight will give me new hope. My biggest excitement now is to return to farming with all my energy. I’d like to focus on maize and sunflower seeds this time around providing food and income for my family. Being able to work to my full potential again means everything to me.
I encourage anyone who is afraid of the surgery to trust God and the doctors. It will all work out. My experience has shown me that there is always hope, even in the darkest times. The support of my family, especially my aunt, and the incredible medical team in Mbeya made my journey from darkness to light possible. For that, I will be forever grateful.”
The next day, Midu’s bandages were removed and he could see again.
