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From Patient to Volunteer
On our second week I was working in Quick Pick and it was pretty early in the day, so I wasn't very busy yet. A young man came up with his paper to get his plano sun. He was with his young son and I was able to find him a nice polarized pair. He began talking to me in English and thanked us for being here in his country. Then he asked how he could help be a part of it. I sent him off to check with our mission manager and within 20 minutes he came back to tell me he and his cousin would stay to help translate. At the end of the day, we had a chance to catch up and he told me the story of an elderly woman he helped dispense readers to. He said that the moment she put them on, she teared up and thanked him for allowing her to see close up again. When he told me this story he stated that he felt like he was sent to this place on this day and the he was blessed to be able to be a part of it.
Susan, Mexico, 2007
Sight for 13-Year Old Lodesana
13-year-old Lodesana and her father traveled 40 kilometers to our clinic in Laos. Upon meeting with the doctor, her father frantically tried to explain that, over the past year, his daughter had completely lost her vision. After a complete exam, the doctor discovered congenital cataracts in both eyes. Thanks to our partnership with local surgeons, Lodesana was immediately sent into surgery to correct this issue. The next day, she and her father greeted our team as we arrived at the clinic. Bouson, explained that he was happy and grateful to the doctors that his daughter could not only see again, but be able to go to school for the first time in her life. daughter can see again". He was also happy that for the first time in his daughter's life, she will be able to go to school.
Leona, Laos, 2007
The Family Chabellas
Mid-afternoon on a clinic day, a mother and her 5-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son entered the clinic. We were shocked they were able to make their way to our clinic - let alone accomplish daily activities - after learning that all three of them were legally blind and had never before owned glasses. Because we did not have close-enough matches for any member of the family, we made them each a pair of chabellas - complete glasses we make on site with their exact prescriptions. When all three family members put their glasses on, smiles spread across their faces and they embraced in a family hug. Our entire volunteer team realized it was the first time they were seeing each other clearly and there was not a dry eye in the house.
Dr. Thi, Guatemala 2007
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