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Blind cancer survivor sees girlfriend for first time

"I still think she’s one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever met."

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Nathan Cummings has just got his sight back after being blind for a year. (Blackpool Gazette via SWNS)

By Douglas Whitbread via SWNS

A blind man who saw his girlfriend's face for the first time after surgery restored his eyesight said: "She's one of the most beautiful people I've ever met."

Nathan Cummings, 24, started dating Samantha Maywood, 25, just months after chemotherapy used to treat a brain tumor left him blind in both eyes.

Nathan Cummings with his girlfriend Samantha Maywood.(Nathan Cummings via SWNS).

The treatment caused cataracts to form in his eyes robbing him of sight.

The couple met on the internet dating site E-harmony earlier this summer and even went on cinema dates despite Nathan's blindness.

But last week (Nov 11), unemployed Nathan underwent laser surgery which partially restored his sight and he was able to look on Samantha's face for the first time.

“When I first met her, I was blind," he said.

"I said to her 'I’m going to look after you. You’re probably the most beautiful person I have ever met."

Nathan Cummings has just got his sight back after being blind for a year due to an aggressive brain tumor. (Blackpool Gazette via SWNS)

Nathan first went to doctors with concerns over his health when he lost his balance while at work just over two years ago.

A short time later, in November 2019, tests revealed that the Blackpool, England man had a cancerous brain tumor, roughly the size of a ping pong ball.

Even though the chances of success were slim, surgeons operated on Nathan straight away for eight hours and managed to save his life.

But only a few months later on his birthday, December 30, he was once again close to death when he caught meningitis.

He then contracted sepsis two separate times while undergoing lifesaving chemotherapy in 2020, which subsequently caused him to go blind.

“I got cataracts through the chemotherapy because it was high-velocity chemo," Nathan said.

“I was blind for about a year.”

While undergoing operations to restore his vision, the 24-year-old met singleton Samantha Maywood, 25, on dating site E-harmony and the two started dating.

"When I signed up to E-harmony, I was looking and looking and looking, but I couldn’t find anybody from Blackpool," Nathan said.

"Then I saw Sam, and she was from Blackpool, and that’s how we got together."

He added: "I thought I’d give it a go, see where it leads me.

Nathan Cummings has just got his sight back after being blind for a year due to an aggressive brain tumor. (Blackpool Gazette via SWNS)

"Her mum suggested that she do it – she’s never had a boyfriend in her life.

The clear connection between the two soon blossomed into a relationship.

“It was supposed to be just getting to know each other, then get together, but it just went straight to a relationship," Nathan said.

Even though he couldn’t see her, they still tried to have a normal dating life, including going to the cinema on one occasion.

“We went to see Fast and Furious 9," he said.

“I walked in, and it was pitch black, and I couldn’t see anything.

“I didn’t really want to see it – I took her to say thanks for helping me.”

During their initial dating life, Nathan said that Samantha “guided” him when they went out together.

But his hopes of seeing his girlfriend of four months rose after he underwent a series of operations to try to restore his vision.

“I had two cataract surgeries, one where I didn’t get my sight back and another where I got my sight back, but it was still a bit blurry," Nathan said.

“Then I had laser eye treatment a couple of weeks after, and then I could basically see.”

Nathan Cummings has just got his sight back after being blind for a year due to an aggressive brain tumor. (Blackpool Gazette via SWNS)

Following the surgery last Thursday (11th), Nathan said he still felt his girlfriend was "the most beautiful person" he'd ever met.

"I still think that – even though I’ve got my eyesight back, I still think she’s one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever met," he said.

"She’s helped me out, even when I was blind."

He added: “That was the best feeling I have ever had, to be honest.

“It was my family as well, so it was the best feeling I have ever had, being able to see them again."

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