May 25, 2011

One Sight Mexico - Day 2: clinic opens and welcomes 1,487 patients

By gbertuzzo

At 7.30am sharp the team was ready to leave, and super-ready for the opening of the clinic. After yesterday's set up and training, we were all ready for ACTION!

When we got to the clinic, the site was already alive with governmental officials and local personalities invited to the opening ceremony. The global success of One Sight is also based on partnerships with key local associations, and the ceremony was the perfect occasion for all partners to meet. As soon as the last applause ended, we all jumped on our feet, eager to have the patients moving ahead - some of them had already been waiting for hours.

From then on, not a minute went by without a patient being visited, a pair of frame donated or a smile being gifted. We could start telling all the individual stories of the 1,487 patients visited today, and each team member would have a favourite memory to share  - and maybe a tear or two to hide.... we want to start sharing a few, more and more each day.

Among the hundreds of patients, we met 5 year olds getting their first pairs, mothers coming with their children, older ladies and gentlemen finally seeing clearly in their 80s...  at the end, it is never too early or to late to see clearly. At the end, all the patients in line met with passionate volunteers that continued to work well past sunset to bring the gift of sight. Eventually, every patients walked out with a pair of sunglasses and, whem in need a pair of optical. Some of the most serious cases, got medical referral and will be treated in the next months by local doctors.

To see with your eyes a sample of todays stories, please refer to attached images. And if you have comment and/or questions on what you read...you know where to find us!

Opening ceremony - our clinic director Leona Dockery can be spotted wearing our official burnt orange T-shirt
Governor´s wife touring the clinic and meeting with Jeffrey Dunaway
Dr Pam Brown with vision acuity volunteers from Conalep Optometrics
Optometrics student Brigette Bloom with her first patient EVER! Congratulations!
Patients cued outside under the sun for many hours for the chance of free vision care
First patient to be dispensed was 7 year old Maria Alma who got her first pair of glasses
Liam Franklin at work!
Brigette´s first patient made it to dispense and was assisted by Marinella Cassol
Liam has a new friend, 86 year old Marcelina. 15 years ago she suffered a bad injury to her left eye and was very grateful to be able to see better! Thanks Liam!
Carmen, 57 years old - her future is now a little brighter...
Francesca Ravagni with 57 year old Isaias
The team is working fast, but the line for the visual acuity test seems getting longer and longer
Lisa Martinez delivers a pair of Chabella to 5 year old Mariela, enabling an audio-impaired little girl to finally see what she cannot hear...
Carolyn Rebelo helps a cute little boy with his first pair of glasses
Leah Harris and Teresa (63 year old) share a laugh and a few tears
Jose (OD -7.00 OS-6.75) wears his first pair of glasses at age 60... many volunteers astound at how he managed to function on a daily basis...no wonder he didn´t want to take them off for adjustement! Lisa Martienz and Art Rice dispensed the glasses
Greta Bertuzzo and Joanne King celebrated Tibielo´s 14th birthday: new glasses? the perfect gift!
Stephen Pfaeffle and a new friend - late at nite!

20 Comments

  1. Delicia Pirie says:

    WEll DONE Mexico team on your first day of clinic.

    From: Luxottica S.A

    Posted on Thu May 26, 2011 12:38 am EST

  2. Emilia says:

    Great stories to share Greta, thank you for posting them.
    Un grande saluto dai centri, in special modo al team italiano, facciamo tutti il tifo per voi.

    Posted on Thu May 26, 2011 2:09 am EST

  3. Claire says:

    Looks like a wonderful first day - well done all! Big thankyou for the great blog and photos, its the first thing we are doing each morning here in the UK X

    Posted on Thu May 26, 2011 4:42 am EST

  4. Odette Ninow-Cullen says:

    Go Team Mexico!!!
    a special shout out to the people on this clinic who have touched my life - Leona, Pam Brown, Jeff Dunaway, Chrissy Hamann,Lisa Martinez, Neil Roberts and my home girl Shelly Sherratt!

    Keep up the FANTASTIC work you are ALL doing!
    Big Hugs
    Odie

    Posted on Thu May 26, 2011 7:54 am EST

  5. Alessandra says:

    Ciao Greta, have I not been telling you for a while that this is an experience not to missed but to actually be repeated over and over for a life time?
    Good luck to you and team Mexico 2011!!!!!
    You have been doing amazing work already. Keep it up!!!! We miss you in the office.

    Posted on Thu May 26, 2011 10:10 am EST

  6. Stefania says:

    What an amazing experience!!! Thank you for sharing!!! And a special shout out to Greta for writing the blog: you make us feel as if we are there with you!!! Keep writing Cupcake!!! I miss you!!!!!!!!!! :)))

    Posted on Thu May 26, 2011 10:50 am EST

  7. Amanda says:

    Love seeing all the photos and reading the captions! Keep them coming :)

    Posted on Thu May 26, 2011 12:26 pm EST

  8. Kim Bowles says:

    Great Pictures Carolyn, keep up the great work it is amazing what a difference can be done for those unfortunate to have the proper eyecare which we take for granted here in Canada.

    Posted on Thu May 26, 2011 12:58 pm EST

  9. BIG AL says:

    Hi Carolyn keep up the great work it is amazing what a difference can be done for those unfortunate to have the proper eyecare which we take for granted here at home monkey looks good in the pictures keep up the good work…AL

    Posted on Thu May 26, 2011 3:40 pm EST

  10. Wendy kratzmann says:

    Hi there Lisa,  Odette and Leona, I so wish I could be there with you all, Make sure you use my tool belt so you know I am there in spirit.  I wish you all well and have a fantastic time. Keep safe. Love to you all, wendy from Australia

    Posted on Thu May 26, 2011 3:53 pm EST

  11. Martha Johnson says:

    Keep up the great work Team Mexico!  Special greetings to Leona, Chrissy & Lisa - it’s a mini South Africa Team Reunion….how do you say sawubona in Spanish?  buena dias, buenos tardes, buenos noches!!! Hugs to all!!! Martha in Atlanta

    Posted on Thu May 26, 2011 4:46 pm EST

  12. Gary Gorecki says:

    Keep up the GREAT WORK!!!! Special Greetings to Leah Harris !!!  We are very proud of you!!!

    Posted on Thu May 26, 2011 6:33 pm EST

  13. Adam says:

    Bravo all around.  Over 100 patients an hour is a very impressive feat!

    Posted on Thu May 26, 2011 6:57 pm EST

  14. Talita van Wyk says:

    Well done everyone! Lots of love and hugs to Shelley - you make us proud! Have a fantastic week-end!!!xxx

    Posted on Fri May 27, 2011 12:20 am EST

  15. Célia Da Silva says:

    Hi there Team Mexico, keep up the great work and a special greetings to our colleague and friend Shelley Sherratt, very proud of you. You are being missed at the office ...

    Posted on Fri May 27, 2011 1:23 am EST

  16. LisaB says:

    Great job Team Mexico!!! Loving following the blog and seeing your team in action. Keep it coming. Hello to Leona, Steve P, and to .... Art :-) I tried to get them to just give you a pass on the ACCUFIT certification cuz you’re doing such a great work for ONESIGHT ...but NOPE , HEY I TRIED 8:(

    Posted on Fri May 27, 2011 6:56 am EST

  17. Davide Bolis says:

    Great job Mexico Team! Thanks a lot to Greta for being there and be helpful for Mexican people!

    Posted on Fri May 27, 2011 7:33 am EST

  18. Clark and Barbara Roberts says:

    Our dear son.  Today’s is my 85th birthday and you have given me the greatest gift any father could ever want.  To see the faces of those beautiful people as their eye sight is improved is a thrill beyond measure!  It is so great that Evelyn can be hear to help us with this fantastic communication, especially the pictures.

    Posted on Sat May 28, 2011 9:32 am EST

  19. susi Gobbi says:

    Hello Mexico!! che emozione vedervi e vedere la nostra Francy Ravagni!!!Quante persone felici regalando a loro quello che per tanti di noi è normalità cioè ..la VISTA!!!Forza a tutti siete davvero delle persone speciali e grazie ONE Sight per tutto questo!!!un’abbraccio dall’Italia!!

    Posted on Wed Jun 1, 2011 12:57 pm EST

  20. Donna Trisco says:

    Hi Leah ( Chicka)
    Checked out the site you are doing such a amazing job there, all of you are such touching stories. I really miss you !! Can’t wait to hear all about it eh!! Cyas soon take care be safe. Big Hugs!!!

    Posted on Thu Jun 2, 2011 7:53 pm EST

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