Since childhood Sai had short sight so in the month of September, 2020, when his sight deteriorated, he was not much concerned. He told his mother Savita and she also felt it may not be anything serious. But later Sai complained of a dark spot in his right eye. This time she felt that there was something amiss.

A single mother working with the Andhra Pradesh State Government at Anantapur, Savita had limited means. Originally belonging to the village of Beedupalli in Puttaparthi Block, she shifted to Anantapur after her husband passed away years earlier. With her little salary and sheer grit, she single-handedly brought up her son Sai, who was 12 years old an eloquent boy and a bright student. Her whole life revolved around her darling son.

“Initially in my right eye’s vision I saw a black spot. Then a few days later my right eye’s vision started reducing,” Sai said.  Alarmed Savita took her son to a private hospital in the town of Anantapur. After checking the eye, the doctors in Anantapur suggested that Sai should be taken to a higher centre in Hyderabad as soon as possible as the treatment involved advanced ophthalmic care. Savita immediately took Sai to Hyderabad in Telangana state.

“We went to a private hospital in Hyderabad. After the check-up we were told that there had been bleeding in the right eye and they also suggested that there could be some kind of infection in the blood,” Savita said. “They took the blood samples and sent them for testing. After a few days the reports came and we were told that it was Tuberculosis. Sai was then given TB medicines. But doctors also told that the retina could have got affected,” she added.

Finally, doctors said that if the medicines were not able to improve the vision, a surgical procedure was the only alternative. The vision did not improve. So, the doctors suggested that a surgery would have to be performed. The private hospital mentioned that the cost of surgery would be around Rs. 100,000.

“This amount was way beyond my means,” Savita said. “We therefore returned to Anantapur.” 

During her son’s school holidays, both mother and son happened to visit her village near Puttapathi. While discussing the issue of her son’s vision, the villagers questioned, why she had not tried to visit Swami’s hospital, which was right next to the village. It had simply not occurred to her that she could have contacted the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Prasanthigram. “Just call and tell them your problem and see what happens,” the villagers said.

Savita knew Swami’s hospital well. Her mother had earlier received treatment for an Orthopaedics problem from there. She then telephoned the hospital and explained the issue. As she stayed nearby, the doctors told her to visit the hospital the next day with the medical reports.

It was March 5, 2021, when both mother and son entered the precincts of SSSIHMS, Prasanthigram, to visit the department of Ophthalmology.

“The moment I set foot inside the hospital in a flash I remembered a dream that I had had almost six months earlier,” Savita said.

“In the dream I was standing outside my home in my village of Beedupalli and I heard Swami’s voice, ‘Why you are going here and there, I have built a hospital right in your backyard, why don’t you go there?’ Swami’s voice had said.”

“It was much before Sai’s eye problem even started. The dream did not strike me as having much significance then, so I forgot all about it. But the moment I set foot inside the hospital campus, the dream came back to me like a thunderbolt.

“So, Swami had already told me to go the His hospital rather than anywhere else, and eventually I had reached the right place,” Savita said. 

After the initial check-up in the Retina Clinic of the Ophthalmology department of SSSIHMS, Prasanthigram, the surgeons realized that Sai was a suffering from a condition called vasculitis leading to vitreous haemorrhage. 

According to Dr Girija Gurung, Vitreo-Retinal Consultant at SSSIHMS Prasanthigram, Sai was suffering from a Retinal Disease called Vitreous Haemorrhage secondary to Retinal Vasculitis. He was started on Medical management and was posted for a Complicated Retinal surgery. He underwent ‘Pars Plana Vitrectomy + Silicone oil Tamponade’ in his Right Eye. After the surgery, Sai’s vision improved. Dr Girija says that they need to wait and watch for further improvement because recovery in Retinal surgeries takes longer. She says that it was a complicated surgery but by Swami's Grace it went off well.  “Undoubtedly, we only treat, it is HE who heals.” Dr Girija completes.

 “I was not worried at all nor was Sai. Though we were told that it was a complicated surgery, we had full faith that Swami will take care,” Savita said. And Swami did. And all the treatment was performed completely free of charge. "We could not afford the treatment in Hyderabad because of the cost of the surgery and here Swami has provided me advanced care, completely free of charge at our doorstep. Can I ask for anything more?!", Savita said.

After the first surgery there was a lot of improvement in the eyesight of Sai. “I can see much better now; everything is much clearer. And I am told that it will improve even further” Sai said.

According to Dr. Anuj Sharma, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, the Ophthalmology department provides advanced care which is unavailable in any of the towns around Puttaparthi. "People have to go either to Hyderabad or Bangalore, but because of Swami's love they are able to get such advanced care in Puttaparthi itself without spending any money.  

Seeing the vision of Sai improving Savita is also very happy, “As I said, I was not worried and Swami took care of everything. Looking back at the treatment which happened at Swami’s hospital, it was as if Swami was there with us throughout and got it done for us.