Following years of deteriorating vision, 101-year-old Gogo Ndawana recently became the oldest person to receive eye care from Grace Vision, reopening her world to clarity and restoring her hope.
Eastern Cape, South Africa (24 November 2025) – Growing up in rural Eastern Cape, Gogo Ndawana Nongejile’s younger years were marked by ploughing fields with cattle to help her family survive.
Now, at the remarkable age of 101 years old, her sight had deteriorated over the years until she came in contact with the Grace Vision team, which unveiled the world she had long been denied.
Her treatment was part of the organisation’s recent surgical camps running throughout October and November.
“From the 11th to the 13th of this month, Gogo Ndawana received sight-restoring surgery at our cataract surgical camp. With her operation, she became the oldest person ever to receive care from Grace Vision, and the patient whose story brings our 2025 total to 560 surgeries,” Grace Vision said.
A video shared on Facebook shows her eye-patch being removed and recieving her post-op eye test, marking a century of life now with restored sight. Now, this grandmother can enjoy watching her children and grandchildren, move with ease around her home and appreciate life’s simple pleasures like the great outdoors.
Grace Vision is hopeful to end the year with a total surgery count of just over 600 for 2025. Gogo Ndawana’s journey is a symbol that it is never too late to restore hope and dignity, even in the most remote corners of the world.
It underscores Grace Vision’s crucial message:
“This is why we do what we do. This is why your support matters.”
To support or learn more about Grace Vision, visit the Facebook page or website.
Sources: Grace Vision
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