A little Indian boy who went blind due to a bizarre condition that caused his eyes to bleed and pop out can see again after a British investment banker paid for specialist medical treatment.
Sagar Dorji, was just four years old when childhood leukemia caused his eyes to become swollen, bloodshot and come out of their sockets.
His devastated parents, Prakash and mother Kusum Dorji, told MailOnline of their son’s painful conditions and described it as a curse back in 2016.
His story was spotted by Himanta Biswa, State Minister of Assam, in north east India where the family lived – and he cajoled the Indian government to fly him 1,800 miles away to Bangalore in the south for chemotherapy to beat the leukemia.
Little Sagar Dorji from Assam state, India, was just four when a bizarre form of leukemia made his eyes bleed and pop out of their sockets before he went blind, devastating his parents
But three years on from those dark days, the youngster, now seven, is free from cancer and has his sight back in one eye – after his story was read by a British philanthropist, who intervened
Since his recovery beaming Sagar is playing football and cricket and released a message to his supporters, saying: ‘Hi and thanks everybody, my eyes do not hurt now. I Love you!’
Then a British investment banker Neetha Shiva who saw his story paid for the crucial operation to bring him back his sight.
Now aged seven, Sagar, who loves cricket, music and Bollywood films, is free of cancer, can see out of one eye and is looking forward to starting school.
In a message to supporters across the world who have followed him throughout his treatment, he said: ‘Hi and thanks everybody, my eyes do not hurt now. I Love you!’
These shocking pictures show how Sagar’s eyes bled and came out of their sockets
Neetha, 44, from London, who paid the £3,500 cost of cornea transplant eye surgery and continues to financially support his family has told of her delight at his incredible recovery.
She told MailOnline: ‘When I first learned about Sagar he was in terrible pain and was dying of cancer.
‘Now he is a happy little boy who is looking forward to going to school.
‘It is truly amazing that a little boy who suffered so much and was not expected to live is now thriving and has some meaningful vision.
‘Despite all the pain and suffering and four years of intensive hospital treatment Sagar has remained strong and resilient throughout.
‘He has never lost his capacity to laugh and enjoy life and is super smart! I have no doubt that he has a brilliant future ahead of him.
‘My thanks goes to Mail Online for highlighting this case and for the amazing doctors for all their hard work and dedication.’
Sagar was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, which he was treated for by respected surgeon Dr Sunil Bhat (right). He then underwent eye surgery to give him back his sight
Neetha Shiva, 44, from London, poses with Sagar’s father Prakash and mother Kusum Dorji – after she paid £3,500 for cornea transplant eye surgery after reading his tragic story in 2016
His parents, who are hard up farmers in Assam, are hugely grateful for all the support they have received to treat their beloved son and give him back his sight.
Prakash said: ‘Neetha Madam reached out to use and offered to give us help.
‘She cared for us and and my son Sagar like we are her family for the last four years.
‘She never gave up hope that our son’s sight would come back.
‘All the doctors initially said this would not happen, but she believed in Sagar.
‘We thank God for her kindness, energy and love and that of all the doctors who have helped us.
‘We are truly humbled that people in the UK have shown such support to us. We sincerely thank you.’
Sagar, pictured more recently, will have more surgery to try and further improve his eyesight
Sagar, pictured during his treatment, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia – which can, on rare occasions, affect the blood vessels in the eyes
Doctors in Bangalore initially diagnosed the little boy with acute myeloid leukemia – which can, on rare occasions, affect the blood vessels in the eyes.
He underwent a bone marrow transplant after his older sister Ipadevi was found to be a donor match.
The £25,000 cancer treatment was mostly paid by the Indian government.
Dr Sunil Bhat, who treated Sagar for the leukemia, said: ‘Sagar is now more than three years post bone marrow transplant and can considered almost cured of his cancer.
‘It has been a great team effort from many specialists to look after him and his family and Ms Neetha.’
Sagar’s sight was given back to him by British surgeon Ken Nischal and Indian surgeon Ramappa Muralidhar at the LV Prasad Hospital in Hyderabad.
Dr Nischal, who has offices in London’s Harley Street and in the USA, said: ‘Sagar’s case, though are, occurs with more frequency in the developing world.
‘Bleeding behind the eyes in patients with leukemia often results in blindness.
‘Sagar’s case was picked up by Ms Neetha and what followed was a tale of commitment and tenacity to ensure that Sagar did not lose his sight.’
Neetha added: ‘There is every reason to think that he can regain more vision, India is at the forefront of new and innovative vision enhancing techniques and many organisations globally are working on cures for blindness and using science to enable stem cell therapy and the advancement of the bionic eye.
The little cricket fan who also loves music and Bollywood films poses with his father Prakash can now look forward to a bright future after Neetha’s intervention and government funding
‘Sagar is only seven and so we still have time.’
Neetha is now dedicated to raising funds for the World Society of Paediatric ophthalmology and Strabismus to ensure that no child goes blind from preventable or treatable conditions.
Sagar suffered so much and lost much of his sight because his parents were initially unable to afford the £120 to undertake the investigations.
The LV Prasad Eye Institute and WSPOS is dedicated to ensuring that children around the world will have access to the medical treatment they need.
All funds raised will go directly to assisting children globally with medical assistance to prevent blindness for rare eye diseases.
To hep support Sagar, please go justgiving.com