Imagine being a mother of three and waking up one morning to find yourself completely blind. The heart-wrenching thought of never seeing your children’s faces as they grow up crosses your mind, while you hold onto the memory of when you last saw them and your husband smile. Adding to this, you now have to give up a career you loved, while relying heavily on your husband for chores and tasks while struggling with mobility after having multiple strokes.
This is the world which Yavini Maduray faces after health complications caused her to suffer three strokes and lose her sight.
Yavini explained that her journey began in May 2020 when she suffered her first stroke, which was followed by a second stroke in June 2021 and a third stroke in June 2022. “In between all of this, I also had two heart attacks,” said Yavini.
Following these health-related issues, Yavini explained that it was then that she lost mobility in her right hand and leg, while gradually losing her sight. Her left eye lost its vision first before she experienced total blindness on 3 December 2022.
Now living in a world of darkness, Yavini’s husband, Kevin, explained, “I had to leave my job to care for Yavini, and have been setting up the house to accommodate Yavini and make it easier for her to move around. This includes railings along the walls in the passage and the bathroom.”
While Yavini was left blind, the couple have not given up on having her sight restored. In January 2024, Yavini was meant to undergo an operation at Grey’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg to scrape off scar tissue from her eyes, reattach the retina, and fill her eyes with oils.
This procedure was meant to ensure Yavini could receive light into the cones and rods of her eyes. However, just before entering the surgery, Kevin explained that it had to be called off, as it was discovered there was no blood flow to her eyes, meaning that the operation would not work.
Despite this obstacle, the couple’s faith and hope have seen them continue searching for an alternative treatment. This led them to discover Livewave patches. The patches are small non-transdermal patches that use phototherapy and acupuncture principles to reactivate dormant stem cells within the body, improving wound healing and cellular functions.
With this in mind, Kevin explained, “These patches will help with stem cells to repair the affected areas and nerves that are damaged. They will also strengthen muscles that were damaged during the stroke. We are at a point where there are too many complications, and it is affecting Yavini a lot. We have been consulting with a team of doctors, including a neurologist, a registered nurse, an optometrist, a wellness coach, and our GP.”
Furthermore, Yavini highlighted that someone sponsored her the trial treatment of the patches, which proved to have beneficial effects during its brief use.
“By the third day of using it, I would experience flashes of light. Also, one morning while Kevin was opening the bedroom windows, I saw the sun and light for about 15 seconds before everything went dark again. It even started helping with the mobility of my right hand and leg.”
While the treatment holds promise, the couple need financial assistance as they have no form of steady income at the moment. Kevin explained that the cost of the treatment is approximately R7,000, which will include the shipping and taxes for the patches.
Additionally, Yavini noted, “We have had people assist us tremendously since this all happened, like when the surgery was meant to take place, we had people assist us with transport and accommodation costs. We just want to request that people assist us on this part of the journey.”
Her yearning for her sight and full mobility lies in her desire to see again and be there for her husband and children. “Kevin and I have learned a lot about each other since this all began, and I have learned that I have an amazing husband. He cooks and cleans for me and the children, and really goes out of his way for us. I would like to be able to do the stuff I once did and be there for him, and my children, as they are for me,” she explained.
As the couple now look to the community for support, will you reach out to a mother of three and help her reclaim her life? If anyone would like to assist Yavini Maduray, they can contact Kevin Maduray on 062 265 3670.
What are your thoughts on Yavini’s story? Share your views in the comment section below.
