74 year old Sutanto Gonanta’s eye sight had been reduced to only one metre. His wife does not fare better, suffering from incurable retina disorder.
We were surprised to know they are still working, as shop keepers at a household chemical store which sells laundry detergent, floor cleaning liquid and soaps. The couple earns USD $60 a month in salary (as a couple), of which, half goes towards paying house rent. The rest is for their daily meals, USD 1 a day. Any incidental costs are hopefully covered from the small commission they make from the sales.
Under the government’s measurement of poverty, this couple is not considered poor because they earn USD 2 per person per day!
The couple had 3 children, the eldest was a general practitioner who died a year ago from over exhaustion. Their second child lives in Kalimantan province with her own family earning just enough for her own family. Their youngest son is a freelance sales person who sometimes works, sometimes doesn’t.
It is clear the couple is still very much saddened by the loss of their eldest son. Sutanto showed me his son’s Medical Practising card which he keeps in his shirt pocket at all time.
But true love binds them through thick and thin. There is no doubt by the way Mrs Sutanto carried on fussing about her husband that she loves him very much and he does too.
Dr. Teguh restored Sutanto’s sight in December 2015. We are all as happy as Sutanto and his wife, knowing his restored sight is indeed priceless for this old loving couple’s lives.
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