YouTube star MrBeast recently helped 1,000 people see again!
The social media star, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, worked with ophthalmologists around the world to help people who were blind or nearly blind by paying for their cataract removal surgeries so they could see clearly again.
MrBeast Helped 1,000 People Get Surgery To See Again
Donaldson, 24, shared the experience in a YouTube video that has more than 50 million views in just three days. In the video, Donaldson explains that more than 200 million people in the world can’t see clearly. The video also highlights some of the surgery recipients’ backstories.
The YouTube star worked with Jeff Levenson, an ophthalmologist and surgeon based in Jacksonville, Florida, whose “Gift of Sight” program offers free cataract surgery to legally blind and uninsured people. He performed the first round of surgeries for Donaldson. “Half of all the blindness in the world are people who need a 10-minute surgery,” Levenson said in the video.
Levenson had his own cataract surgery and was shocked how the results turned out. “In the days and weeks after my own cataract surgery, I was stunned by how bright and beautiful and vivid the world was,” he told CNN. “But I was shocked by the idea that there are hundreds of millions, probably 200 million people around the world, who are blind or nearly blind from cataracts and who don’t have access to the surgery.”
Donaldson contacted Levenson about the project and the doctor almost didn’t take the call. “When MrBeast first called me, he enthusiastically described wanting to do a thousand cataract surgeries on blind people, all around the world, in three weeks,” he explained to PEOPLE. “I’d never heard of him, the whole thing sounded crazy, he sounded like a 12-year-old, and I almost hung up. So glad I didn’t.”
MrBeast’s YouTube Video Shows The Stories Of Some Of The Surgery Recipients
The video highlights some of the 1,000 people who Donaldson helped to see again, and explains the surgery needed to restore their vision. “If you’re wondering how the surgery allows people to see again, it’s because the lens in their eye got so cloudy that they can’t see through it,” Donaldson explained. “So, the surgeon uses a tiny vacuum to suck up the clouded lens and replace it with an artificial one.” After surgery, they can see clearly again.
Donaldson had the chance to meet with some of the people he helped by paying for their surgeries. One patient named Charlie got a bonus surprise after his surgery.
Before surgery, Donaldson asked Charlie if he could read the eye chart, which said, “You just won $10,000,” but he couldn’t see it at all. “He won’t know he won 10 grand until after his surgery. I can’t wait to see his reaction,” Donaldson said. After the surgery was over, Charlie was able to read the eye chart and was really excited to not only be able to see, but also to go home with $10,000.
One person named Jeremiah emotionally told Donaldson that he’s been subscribed to MrBeast’s channel for 11 years.
“Jeremiah has been blind in his right eye since he was born. And it’s affected his vision his entire life,” Donaldson said. “Because Jeremiah was born with cataracts, his right eye never received light and that means that this surgery only has a 50 percent chance of working.”
Jeremiah’s surgery was a success and Donaldson gave him $50,000 so he can go to college. Not a dry eye in the house!
Another young person Donaldson helped, named Satchel, had poor vision from birth and almost lost his entire vision after a go carting accident. He really wants to be able to drive and was hoping the surgery works so he can do just that. Satchel’s surgery was a success and he met with Donaldson three weeks later when he got the amazing surprise of a brand-new Tesla.
The 8-minute YouTube video concluded by showing people in other countries also getting the chance to have the life-altering surgery thanks to MrBeast and the project.
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A clip of the video was shared on MrBeast’s Instagram page where many followers took to the comment section to leave their thoughts on MrBeast’s latest project. “My fav video you’ve ever made 🥺,” one person wrote. “The right guy got to get rich and famous,” said another.
Many fans praised Donaldson for all the amazing work he’s always doing. “If this guy tells us he is God himself, I’ll believe him,” one fan wrote. “This man gave me $100,000, planted 20 million trees, hit 100 million subs and is now helping people see for the first time! What can’t this guy do 🙌🏿,” said another.
