I am writing this in one of the most remote and poorest places I’ve ever been.

We’re in a tiny village, four hours south of Calcutta, India. The temperature is 100 degrees; humidity is 98%. My clothes are drenched in sweat. It is 10:30 a.m. on our last day here in Calcutta. Please excuse my bad photography.

if you come across an excellent photo here – chances are it was taken by Brent Stirton, one of the most talented and altruistic photographers in the world. He has come here to photograph two of our patients for us, for free, to help us raise awareness of the problem of the “needlessly blind.” Brent and his talented partner are going to capture the life-changing transition as our partner hospital restores the eyesight of two sisters who were born blind and have never seen their mother.

After their 15-minute surgeries, they will each see their mother for the first time