When he was one year old, Lucio was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes and over time his vision deteriorated. Now that he is 7, he needs intraocular lenses that cost US$4,400 and the social insurance does not cover it. The family, desperate, launched a collection and sold raffles to raise the money.
Walter, the little Cordoba’s father, explained in a conversation with TN that a few months after Lucio was born he began to hit himself with things because he couldn’t see well: “That’s why we realized, urgently, we took him for a check-up and they diagnosed him there. At the time he didn’t have as much cataract, but he grew.”
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A month ago, his parents took him for new tests and the doctor told them that he had to have surgery. Because the Clínica del Sol does not have ophthalmic surgeons who perform this type of surgery, they had to go to the Clínica Romagosa.
In the latter, they can do the intervention, but the medical insurance only covers that part and not the intraocular lenses. “We can not lose more time. We were fighting with the social work who did not want to take charge of the operation, but we managed to get them to at least cover it. Not the glasses, I don’t know why,” she remarked.
Lucio was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes when he was one year old. (Photo: courtesy Walter Randazzo)
For her part, the child’s mother pointed out: “His eyes are already quite affected. If they let more time pass, there will come a time where they will not be able to see anymore. The eye can deviate and that can no longer be corrected.” And she added: “The operation is urgent before something bad happens or your entire field of vision is covered.”
Lucio’s difficult day to day
The little one’s daily routine is not at all simple. One of the main problems he has is at school when he has to look at the blackboard and can’t see what his teacher wrote about him.
“Although the young lady feels it in the first pews, it is difficult for her to focus. It strains her eyesight a lot and that gives her headaches,” Walter said.
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Because his field of vision is diminished, he is also unable to measure the distance to the things around him. “If there is something sticking out of a table or wall, it is accidentally knocked over. He doesn’t see it, he doesn’t realize it and that leads to him having blows to the head or tripping over things,” he added.
In this sense, he said that he also has difficulty sleeping: “He cannot lead a normal life, he is not having a good time emotionally. He is a child and he is aware of everything that has to be done to him, this has him upset and nervous, we notice him sensitive. “We try to support him and not let up.”
“It is a very rare and unique case because it does not happen to many people. “We were hoping it would go away or diminish, but it didn’t,” he added. The surgery could restore Lucio’s full vision and that is why his parents ask for help.
How to help Lucio
The little boy’s family began to hold a raffle where fortunately they were able to sell a large number of numbers. That is why they also started a solidarity collection for people who want to help.
alias: RIFA.LUCIO.RANDAZZO
Lucio’s family started a solidarity collection to raise the money. (Photo: courtesy Walter Randazzo)