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Mirembe with her mother Monica © Sightsavers
Mirembes Story
When Elijah met Mirembe
Seven-year-old Mirembe Birungi from the Kamuli District of Uganda, lives with her mother and three brothers. She was born with cataract in both eyes and although she initially had some vision, by the age of one Mirembe was completely blind. Sadly, she is also deaf, and cannot speak.
This made it impossible for her and her mother to communicate, and she was living in a world without sight or sound. As a result, Mirembe timidly followed her mother everywhere and never let go of her skirt.
Her mother Monica heard about a screening camp on the radio and took Mirembe there. After being diagnosed at a screening camp, Mirembe was operated on.
A life transformed
Her vision has been restored after a successful cataract operation and so has her childhood. "If Mirembe could talk she would have very many words," Elijah told us, "instead she just smiles!" Now, she is a child reborn, full of curiosity, she hops and skips along. What’s more, she’s started to communicate using simple signs. The operation that your support helped to provide has opened up her world.
When we last met this family, Monica was trying to place her daughter in school but did not know if it would be possible, given that Mirembe does not speak or know sign language. We caught up with our Uganda team who were happy to report that Mirembe is now in school! This is fantastic news and another huge step forward for Mirembe.
Life could have been so different for this family, but now Mirembe is getting an education that will give her the best possible chance of a bright future and independent life.
In Elijah's own words
Watch a photo film featuring more images of Mirembe and hear Elijah talk about his first encounter with this captivating child; how he saw her transform into a happy and curious little girl.
