To see again

Imagine being blind. Now imagine being blind and living in one of the remotest parts of Nepal without any prospects of getting the vision back in your eyes. 

In ‘Second Suns’, American journalist and author David Oliver Relin gives us a true story of two eye doctors who put an inspiring effort in making the underprivileged people suffering from cataract (clouding of the eye lens and resulting in diminished vision) see again.  

We are introduced to the two ophthalmologists – Dr Sanduk Ruit and Dr Geoff Tabin.

Although both of them come from different cultural backgrounds and upbringings, they work for a common goal. And the common goal is to help those who don’t even have access to basic health facilities. It is the same thought that gets materialized into the Himalayan Cataract Project (HCP). 

Ruit was born in the Himalayas and grew up among the mountains. At the age of seven, Ruit trekked with his father for fifteen days to reach India, just for the junior Ruit to take up schooling there. Later on, his family relocated to Kathmandu. 

On the other hand, the energetic and freewheeling Tabin came from a well to do American family and graduated from an Ivy League college. He was always interested in sports and at one point in his life, he saw himself becoming either a professional tennis player or mountaineer.  

For ‘Second Suns’, Relin followed Ruit and Tabin for almost four years. He lost his battle with depression in 2012 and wasn’t alive for the book’s release the following year. Here, Relin finds a balance in describing each of the doctors separate journey in their joint humanitarian cause. The well paced structure of the book and the minutely observed details will captivate readers. 

‘Second Suns’ is a revealing and inspiring book that will leave the readers with a sense of duty to contribute for the less fortunate. 

Noora is a seventh grader in Saint Patrick Catholic School in North Carolina, USA.