May 17, 2012

Creating Happy Gambians

By lisab

 

Each day our leadership team places us at a different station so that we have a chance to experience each and every task in the process of the clinic. Today my station was visual acuity where the eye chart is used. Brikina was a 5 year old girl who was having some difficulty understanding because she is so young. Our local volunteer Matar wanted to move on and skip doing acuities on her but I had a feeling that with patience she could do it. After a lot of back and forth between Edith and I and Matar we finally got him to agree to step back and let us try. He felt that it was taking too much time and that we did not have so much time to spend on one person. We finally got him to understand that a few extra minutes is worth changing this little girls life by helping her see. If we found that she needed glasses it would be a whole new world for her. We use the eye chart that has only the E but in different directions and decided to use the UP and  DOWN only to make it more simple for her. She was able to read all the way to the 20/20 line of the chart. When she completed the test all 3 of us were so happy that we took our time and let her succeed.

 

The Biggest Smile

After seeing many patients today, there was one woman that really stood out to me.  She slowly made her way into the doctor's room, using her hands to reach out so that she wouldn't bump into anything or anyone.  I quickly glanced at her auto refraction, which gives the doctor an idea of what a patient's prescription is, and instantly I knew why she moved so cautiously.  She had a very high prescription because she had cataract surgery but no replacement lens was placed back into her eye.  This woman couldn't see anything at all.  As soon as I placed her much needed prescription on her face, she lit up with the biggest smile I've ever seen!  She began moving around the room so fast that I couldn't keep up with her.  

Dr. Rick 

Virginia Beach, VA

 

What an experience!  The people of Gambia are wonderful.  They are so polite and understanding.  For the people who need it, we are making customized, new glasses...new vision allows the people to have a bright future.  Our team is from six different countries...a global effort to help the world see better.

Bruce 

 

3eme jour:

Aujourd hui, j ai passé la journée a l autorefracteur et j ai étè marqué par un petit garçon de 3ans. Il avait déjà des yeux très pour son jeune age. Donc, il passa a l autorefracteur, monta sur les genoux de sa maman et nous avons passé au moins 15 minutes avant d arriver à prendre son defaut de vision car impossible pour CE petit garçon d ouvrir les yeux assez grand. Nous nous y sommes mis a 3 un qui lui tenait la paupiere du haut, l autre la paupiere du bas et le troisieme prenait la refraction. Ca sera l évènement qui aura marqué ma journée aujourd hui. Je suis tres touchée de voir autant d enfant de petit age qui ont des problemes visuels. Il n y en avait pas autant dans les autres missions que j ai faites. 

Claire

 

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4 Comments

  1. Adam Hill says:

    Dr. Rick! I spoke to Dipti this morning, she told me you were off on another mission… glad to hear you’re changing lives again! The aphakes are always especially grateful to receive their glasses. Keep up the good work!

    Claire, c’est une histoire tellement drôle, mais c’est admirable que vous avez pris la peine de rester patient avec ce petit garçon. C’est toujours difficile d’examiner ces jeunes enfants, mais comme tu as dit, il faut qu’on le faire, parce qu’il y a (pas souvent, heureusement!) des enfants de petit age qui a des problèmes. Les voyages de OneSight s’agissent de collaboration!

    Posted on Thu May 17, 2012 5:47 pm EST

  2. Janet Nicholas says:

    It certainly takes a special individual to give so much of yourself to come together to give aid to people in such dire need.  Loss of sight deprives a person of so much.  Fortunately we have a group of caring and unselfish individuals known as “Team Gambia 2012” putting forth the effort to make such a remarkable difference in the lives of so many.  You have not only restored the gift of sight, but brought back happiness along with it.  Keep up the outstanding work!  Dr. Rick, we miss you and are extremely proud of you and all you have accomplished on your missions!  We love you!  Great job!  You are simply amazing!

    Posted on Thu May 17, 2012 8:38 pm EST

  3. Angie C says:

    Lisa, I love reading your blogs and hear what it going on from day to day. It is so obvious that you love what you are doing and helping others to see gives you the warm fuzzies! Miss you.

    Posted on Thu May 17, 2012 9:42 pm EST

  4. Debbie R. says:

    Lisa, you are doing a terrific job blogging. They are always so descriptive, I can imagine being there with you. The stories of the Gambian people are heartwarming. Keep up the amazing job you’re doing :)

    Posted on Fri May 18, 2012 4:56 pm EST

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