SEE THE LIGHT
MUM Tatiana Jere can’t wait for her baby Khamani to see his first Christmas tree lights – as she feared he would go blind without ever experiencing them.
She said: “He was only seven months old when I was told he was losing his sight. As a mum, it’s very tough to hear that.”
But after laser eye surgery Khamani’s vision has been saved, and Tatiana added: “If there is one thing he likes, it’s lights.
“Christmas is the perfect season for him. He is going to love seeing the tree lit up and all the sparkly decorations.”
This Christmas The Sun is asking YOU, our caring readers, to help fund gifts and specialist services and equipment to help children like Khamani.
Our Joy To The Ward appeal is raising money for NHS Charities Together, which supports nearly 240 worthy NHS causes such as Moorfields Eye Charity.
Khamani, now 11 months old, has Norrie disease, an eye disorder that can lead to blindness soon after birth. He was diagnosed after a nurse noticed his “wobbly” eyes when Tatiana took him to A&E for an unrelated infection last summer.
She said: “His eyes would wobble from side to side and in circular motions, as well as flicker. He couldn’t focus on anything. When we took him to A&E, the nurse noticed it straight away.”
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After tests at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, he was seen by one of the world’s leading eye experts, Robert Henderson, a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in London.
Tatiana, who lives in Battersea, South London, with partner Ferron Marshalleck, 31, and elder son Micai, five, said: “What happened next was a huge shock.
“The doctor said Khamani had already lost a lot of his sight and they’d have to operate immediately to stop him going completely blind.
“The condition causes blood vessels at the back of his eye to burst. Gradually he was losing vision.”
Khamani had laser treatment at Moorfields in August using a retinal camera to see into the back of his eye. Though the damage was irreparable, surgeons could stop it getting any worse, saving around 30 per cent of his vision.
Tatiana, who works for Transport For London, said: “If they didn’t have that camera he would probably be blind now. Instead he’s now starting to reach out and grab things.
HUGE SHOCK
“The operation couldn’t bring back his vision, but it has made a huge difference. The change in him has been drastic. He’s excelled.”
One item on the hospital’s wish list this Christmas is another £150,000 retinal camera to help more children like Khamani retain their sight. Tatiana added: “We are so lucky to have the NHS. We all know how much they have done for us during Covid.
“Right now, NHS Charities Together need the help of Sun readers so NHS charities can raise money for things like another retinal camera and other life-changing support, and help more children.”
Khamani returns to hospital for three-monthly sight checks and may need further laser treatment if his vision worsens. Tatiana said: “He might never have the best vision in the world but if he can recognise his mum and family, that’s a good start.
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“If it wasn’t for our wonderful NHS, he’d be blind by now. I can’t thank them enough.” Consultant Robert Henderson said: “Without the retinal camera, Khamani would have lost his eyesight completely.
“Your donation today could help to fund life-changing pieces of equipment like this. I can’t think of a better gift to give this Christmas.”
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HOW TO GIVE
The Sun’s Joy To The Ward appeal is raising money for NHS Charities Together, the national, independent charity supporting more than 230 NHS charities across the UK.
Your donations will help support children and families going through the toughest times imaginable, providing specialist equipment and services along with toys, play- workers, parents’ accommodation and much more.
DONATE ONLINE: Scan the QR code above with your phone camera to go straight through to our donation page or visit nhscharitiestogether.givesafely.org/joy.
DONATE BY TEXT: Text JOY to 70607 to donate £10 to NHS Charities Together. You’ll be charged £10, plus one message at your standard network rate. NHS Charities Together will receive 100% of your donation.
DONATE BY POST: Use the coupon on the left.
- NHS Charities Together is the trading name of the Association of NHS Charities. Registered Charity No 1186569 (England & Wales) and SC050716 (Scotland). Company No 12325259
BLEAKEST WINTER IN HISTORY
By Ellie Orton, Chief Executive, NHS Charities Together
THE NHS is facing its toughest winter ever. Staff are tackling large waiting lists and clinics are overwhelmed by a backlog of patients and the growing impact of winter pressures – all while still having to deal with Covid-19.
Throughout all of this, NHS Charities Together is here to help, supporting isolated patients, funding counselling for exhausted staff, providing training for emergency response volunteers and much more.
The 238 member charities we support are based in hospitals and ambulance, community and mental health services across the UK. Collectively, they give more than £1million to the NHS every day, so people can stay well for longer and get better faster.
This includes thousands of sick children and their families in hospital right now.
Together, we help the NHS go further by listening to what staff and patients need and filling gaps where extra help is needed.
Vital extras
This help can bring joy at the darkest times – from brilliant hospital playworkers to special presents and a visit from Santa, or simple creature comforts that make hospital feel less like hospital.
The services NHS charities fund can also be genuinely life-changing, and even life-saving, whether that is providing a home away from home for parents of sick children, specialist equipment that helps a baby keep their sight or essential youth mental health services supporting communities across the UK.
All of this is often only possible with public support. And with pressures on services continuing to grow, that support is more important now than ever.
You can help us provide the vital extras that make a difference.
And as the national, independent charity caring for the NHS, we’ll make sure donations get right to the heart of where they are needed most.
We are so grateful for your ongoing support – at Christmas and all year round.
Sun's Joy to the Ward appeal is helping make Christmas magical for poorly children like Clara Charlton
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