We are glancing over Dr Kessler’s shoulder in the operating theatre
6-year-old Javier (*) was playing with boys from his neighbourhood when one of them threw a sharp-edged iron bar towards his right eye. The eye was watering and he could not see clearly anymore. His parents brought Javier immediately to Diospi Suyana’s eye department.
Dr Werner Kessler found an injury in the eye-lid and one of the lacrimal tubules had been severed. Further the cornea had been cut through, but fortunately the innermost part of the eye was unscathed. One of Werner’s main areas of expertise throughout his surgical career is exactly in these areas: reconstructive surgery of eyelids and lacrimal tubules. It was for precisely this reason in order to operate on such rare cases that Dr Kessler had brought specific materials with him from overseas. Important utensils that do not exist in this form in Peru.
It was the first operation of its kind at the Hospital Diospi Suyana. Through the operation the tubules and lids were restored. Through the splint the lower lacrimal tubule can heal without a pitted shrinkage and will thus stay open. A lifelong watering eye has thus been avoided. The cornea should also heal quickly. The young patient and his father were delighted about the good treatment. But probably they do not realise how extremely fortunate Javier was. If things turn out in such a wonderful way then we Christians speak of God’s blessing. (* Name changed)