Triplets of Syunik

Sight Saved for Premature Triplets

Arman and Anna, from the Syunik province in Armenia, were blessed with triplets, two girls and one boy, but because the infants were born prematurely, all three had problems with their sight.

Jora, Armina and Mariam were all diagnosed with Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) and Arman and Anna were told that if nothing was done to fix the issue, their beautiful babies would soon go blind.

“There were moments of hopelessness,” Arman divulged. The family had initially traveled to Russia for aid, though ultimately, it was unsuccessful. But the desperation and heartbreak didn’t last forever. Our very own AECP physicians emerged with a solution soon-after.

Operating as a team, Dr. Chien Wong flew to Armenia from London, Dr. Thomas Lee from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles was connected on Skype, and Dr. Hasmik Shahnazaryan, an Armenian surgeon in training, was on hand to help.

This team of talented AECP physicians worked together to complete the six-hour laser eye surgery at the USAID-supported Center of Excellence for the Prevention of Childhood Blindness (CEPCB) in Yerevan. The surgeries were a success; the triplets’ sight was saved for life.

“We were able to make significant progress,” Dr. Wong said. “But more importantly, we were able to give the patients a good result.”

Since the surgery, Jora, Armina and Mariam have had multiple eye screenings and are always graced with positive results.

Their father and mother, of course, are immensely grateful.

“My deepest gratitude to all the doctors and donors…” Arman said. “Our lives have changed 180 degrees.”