When Mr. Ranga Reddy called his friend Chandrasekhar staying in the village of Dhoopampalli, to share his worry, he was not prepared for the friendly scolding he was to receive from him. “Why go to any other place when Swami’s hospital is right here in Puttaparthi. So many of my known persons have got their sight back because of Swami’s hospital that too completely free of charge and you are running here and there,” Chandrasekhar had chided him. Mr. Reddy a retired headmaster from Goothy, Andhra Pradesh, did not delay any further and straight away reached the Ophthamology department of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Prasanthigram. As a headmaster of a Government school in Goothy, K. Ranga Reddy, 75, had spent a good part of his life dedicated to teaching children. After retirement, Mr. Reddy lived with his son and daughter-in-law a satisfied life. “The four decades I spent as a headmaster, I used to teach kids all the subjects and did it will all my heart,” Mr. Reddy said. “In November 2019, I noticed my right eye was gradually losing vision for no apparent reason. Nothing went into my eye, nothing hit my eye, yet gradually I started losing vision,” he said. Initially I thought it was nothing and I would recover. But it did not happen. I then called one of my relatives and he suggested that I see an Ophthalmologist,” Mr. Reddy said. 

Mr. Reddy then visited an ophthalmology hospital. The specialists there performed the tests and told him that initially they will have to administer an injection in the eye, which will cost Rs. 25,000 and later a surgery was needed to be performed, which will cost around Rs. 50,000. “They asked me a lot of money for the treatment, but frankly, it was not the money they asked, which put me off, but they seemed interested only in money. This totally put me off. It looked as if they are not interested in treating my ailment, but only to relieve me of my money,” Mr. Reddy said. So I told my relative I will think about it and then would call him back later. 

I returned home. Mr. Reddy had two friends in whom he usually confided. One Pratap another Chandrasekhar. “When I spoke to them, both scolded me and told me to go nowhere else but Swami’s hospital in Puttaparthi. Chandrasekhar told me he personally knew many many people who had got their sight back because of Baba’s hospital and therefore I should go nowhere else. Same thing even Pratap repeated.” Taking their advice, Mr. Reddy reached the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Prasanthigram, got registered in the Ophthalmology department and then visited the Ophthalmology Out Patient Department. In the Ophthamology OPD a pleasant surprise awaited Mr. Reddy.

“The doctor told me, I did not require any operation and just by taking medicines, my vision will return. This was music to my ears. But what really enchanted me was the way I was spoken to by the doctors. There was young doctor, Dr. Bhavana who performed the initial tests and then a senior doctor Dr. Girija. I was highly impressed with their behaviour. So gentle and completely to the point. “ The senior doctor told me, “Grandfather, there is no need for surgery for this ailment, but you must do what we tell you. You need to take medicines judiciously and return on the dates we give you for a review, is it OK? I immediately agreed,” Mr. Reddy said.

I visited the hospital for the first time on December 12, 2019, then I was asked to return on 24. 12. 2019 after taking the medicines. By that time itself, 60% of my eyesight had returned. The doctors told me to continue the medication and return on 7.1. 2020, by this time I had regained almost 75% of the vision. I was told that my recovery was going on perfectly and I should continue the medication and return on

23.1.2020. I have almost completely regained my vision,” Mr. Reddy said. The doctor told me that there is also a cataract in the eye for which a surgery could be performed later, he added. “See the difference,” Mr. Reddy pointed out. “ On one side you have these hospitals which are only after your money and are not much interested in treating your ailment and on the other hand you have Baba’s hospital. The best diagnosis, the best treatment, the best skill of the doctors, the best behaviour and completely free of charge. Where will anyone get anything like this like this anywhere,” he asked.

 According to Dr. Girija Gurung, Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, SSSIHMS, Prasanthigram,who treated Mr. Reddy, he had had an ailment known as Neuroretinitis in the right eye and for this ailment he was started oral steroids after doing a complete blood work up. “He responded well and his vision showed gradual improvement and has regained his vision almost completely. He also has a cataract for which a surgery will be performed later, but the main cause for his vision loss was Neuroretinitis, which has been taken care of,” she said. 

According to Dr. Anuj Sharma, Head of Department of Ophthalmology, many patients who visit the Swami’s hospitals do so because they know that they will get an honest opinion about their ailment, which many times is quite contrary to what they would have been suggested outside. " Also we try to train the residents in a similar way, " he added.  

“It is not as if I had not known about the hospital, but did not know that there was an ophthalmology department here. Bhagawan Baba had started these amazing projects for the benefit of humanity and it is so heartening to see that even so many years after his passing away His work is continuing the same way,” Mr. Reddy said.

During my last visit my heart was so filled with happiness that I walked up to the two doctors who treated me and blessed them with all my heart for a happy and prosperous life ahead. Mr. Reddy concluded.