ROP is a condition that causes abnormal blood vessels to grow in the retina, causing it to detach from the back of the eye. Without proper treatment, it can lead to blindness. In fact, it is one of the leading causes of childhood blindness worldwide.
Approximately 8,200 newborns are at-risk for ROP each year in Peru, where Elisa lives. In 2019, her triplets were among them.
The news that Elisa’s babies were at risk for ROP came amidst already difficult circumstances. The hospital in her hometown hadn’t been able to accommodate Elisa’s high-risk pregnancy, so they referred her to a more advanced facility in Lima. Five months into the pregnancy, doctors detected danger of an early birth, and Elisa was admitted to the hospital for a week.
Despite the scare, the expectant mother—who already had three boys at home—was happy and excited. “I was really happy five months in after seeing the sonograms! They told me it was going to be three girls,” she said, laughing, “so I now have a balance.” At six months and three weeks, Elisa was hospitalized again. This time, doctors told her she would have to stay until the babies were born.