"Now we will put two drops in your right eye," one of the Georgetown University Hospital doctors told Nicolás, 6, the blind triplet scheduled for surgery last Friday morning.

"I am ready," the boy said bravely.

"Once you feel the drops in your eye," the doctor continued with her instructions, "slowly close it and then open it."

Suddenly Nicolás said to the doctor, "I love you." The team of nurses and doctors headed by Dr. David G. Wagner at the hospital’s Greater Retina Center was touched to hear Nicolas’ words.

"We love you too, Nicolás," said a nurse.

The drops were put into Nicolas’ eye and the eye lid slowly closed. Then a few seconds later Nicolás opened his eye and asked: Can I see now?

While the surgery was a success, according to Dr. Wagner, it may take several months for the boy to recover some sight.

"Little by little he could detect images and colors," said Dr. Wagner, who operated on the boy at no cost.

Other expenses related to the surgery are being covered by donations made by parishioners of the diocese.

"We will continue the campaign on behalf of this family," said Nitza Seguí, executive director of the International Migrants’ Development Fund (FIDMI), the Washington non-profit group that initiated the campaign for Nicolás’ surgery.

"Now we know the family has many needs, and we will do our best to address them in the short and long term," said Seguí, whose group has been operating as the fiscal agent for the contributions.

The hospital has not yet determined the total cost for Nicolas’ surgery, which originally was estimated between $15,000 and $18,000.

As of last week, FIDMI reported donations total is $6,497. A parishioner of St. Leo the Great Parish in Fairfax had pledged "to put all the money needed after the fund-raising campaign." The donor requested anonymity.

Nicolás Argel is the only one of the Colombian blind triplets that, according to Dr. Wagner, could currently recover some sight in one of his eyes.

"Some day my three grandsons will see. God will make the miracle," said Ceila Gracia Pacheco.

Nicolás, Esteban and Leonardo Argel were born prematurely. They developed retinitis because they did not have enough strength to gain normal vision. It is a very unusual and difficult illness. In the best scenario, a person suffering from retinitis could recover some sight.