Tran Van Giap

In 1992, Fred checked himself out of hospital to fly to Vietnam to fulfill a promise to help the country set up an eye health program.

On examining patients, Fred came across a little boy - Tran Van Giap as seen in the picture. Giap was seven years old at the time and had injured his right eye. He was in pain and suffering vision loss. Fred examined Giap and organized an operation.

After all, Fred had promised he would. And he did keep that promise.

The child on that occasion was Tran Van Giap, and 14 years later, Ngo Thi Phuong Anh (The Foundation's Project Coordinator in Hanoi) managed to track him down. 

Giap is the youngest of 6 children born of poor farmers. He is the only one to go onto university, where he is studying mathematics so he can become a teacher.

The restoration of his sight gave Giap vision in more ways than one. It restored the sight in his damaged eye, and let him see that there was more to the world than the local commune.

The Fred Hollows Foundation began work in Vietnam in 1993. Then, there were perhaps 100 cataract operations performed a year. Now, there are 100,000 undertaken a year, which means another 100,000 people a year can see.

The Foundation funds several thousand of those operations directly each year, for people who cannot otherwise afford them.

In Vietnam, in the past three years alone - with the support of generous people like you - The Foundation has trained 35 surgeons, donated 160 microscopes and trained 2,000 village health workers to diagnose eye problems.

The Fred Hollows Foundation has funded more than 1 million cataract operations for disadvantaged people in developing countries, since its inception.

Please help us to go on keeping Fred's promises, so more people like Giap can see into the future. Donate now to give the gift of sight and change lives.

Ngo Thi Phuong Anh.

Dear Aunty Gabi,

I am very happy and moved when you visit Vietnam and visit me and meet me.

Time goes very fast - it is already 14 years since the day Professor Fred Hollows has brought the life to my right eye. The story happened at my childhood but it feels like it happened yesterday.

During my effort to study and grow, the right eye always remind me about the great work Professor Fred Hollows had done for me, about the luckiness and the miracle meeting between me and Professor.

The story is always a motivation for me to try and try more to become a good man for the society. In some first steps I have gained some small achievements - I am now the third year student of the university of education, mathematics subjects, and I am very happy about that.

I always had a dream - in the future I will come back the National Eye Hospital to visit and thank the doctors and nurses. I especially wish to travel to Australia in order to present an incense in front of the Professor Fred Hollows grave - the late father in my heart.

I am truly happy that you visit my family. I and my family cannot find enough words to thank the Professor and you. I want to send the best wishes to you and your children, wishing you and your children always healthy, happy in your life, success in your work. I wish for the great cause of father Fred Hollows to be continued to bring the life for more poor people in the world.

Tran Van Giap, 2006

(Translated by Vietnam Country Manager, Dr Huynh Tan Phuc)