May 26, 2011

OneSight Day 3: 1,264 patients celebrated with Mexican food!

By gbertuzzo

Greetings from Puebla!

The long hours and the hard work from yesterday didn´t affect the energy or enthusiasm of the team: by 7.30 am we were all on the road and READY!

Clinic opened sharply at 8.30 am, and the flow of patient came in steady all the day long. Overall by 5 pm we were able to take care of all the patients scheduled for today, 1,264! The entire team is getting mor e and mroe familiar with the different areas of the clinic, the different duties... and also our understanding of Spanish improved a lot! Many of us were able to interact with patients without a full-time intepreter.Definately a satisfaction for us, but also a key step to really bring the interaction with patients on a more human level

By talking to them we also got to know them, and learned a bit about them and their lifes. You can go to the picture gallery meet Silvia, Francisco, Angeles, ..and many others. Unfortunately we do not have the space to tell you about them: to share with you that Rosalina will her new glasses to embroider (her favourite hobby!), while Lucia told me she was sad she couldnt read the Bible anymore...A different patient, Paola, donated her old glasses (i think this is a first!!) after receiving a new, best suited pair for her vision. But they were not only thinking about themselves, but inquired about the clinic open hours as they wanted to send in friends and family as well.

At the end of the day, nothing better than a typical Mexican food: we went to the Hotel Coloniale, in the historical center fo Puebla. The typical dish is the mole poblano, a bean based sauce.

Most of the team is not sleeping...time to recover the energies for another long day. And tomorrow, will be a special one: we will infact welcome more than 1,000 kids (8-12 years old) from 23 local schools.

Stay tuned... the best has yet to come!

Good morning, Puebla! but to be honest it is the city of Puebla waking us up every morning.. at 6.30! but the sounds of the bells ringing is pretty good!
17 of the 40 team members share a photo opportunity with a special guest (Monkey!!) and some local doctors and volunteers
Eduardo De Oliveira with a very young Superman
Dr John Lahr helped Maria Luisa, 62, with her first pair of glasses. Maria Luisa has also been referred to a local doctor so that she can go for another check in a few month
Dr Neil Roberts and Francisco quickly connected during the medical examination, so our doc helped Francisco with his new glasses and shared the magic of new-found vision!
Art Rice with a new friend!
Dr Michelle Brehm assisted Maria Julia, OD -7.00 and OS -8.50, with her first pair of glasses. Maria is 67 and went through her entire life without being able to see. She did so for the first time today: tears were to be found in the eyes of both patient and doctor!
Thanks to store 0765, Alejandro (here with Greta Bertuzzo) received today a new pair of glasses. Quality recycling and support from each of us are FUNDAMENTAL for the success of every clinic! Way to go store 0765!
Dr Pam Heyne-Thompson discovered that Silvia, 34, was carrying some severely broken glasses in her purse with a prescription of OD -11.00 and OS -14.25. Carolyn Rebelo helped her with a new pair of glasses for her to wear. Now she can really take care of her child
Silvia´s severely broken glasses
Jeremy Rex and Art Rice with a very young glasses recipient
Optometry student Brigette Bloom helped Sandra get ehr first pair of eyewear. Thanks to Jeremy Rex for preparing them on site exclusively for Sandra's prescription.
Dr Neil Roberts with Angeles, 50 years old. A special bond was born when she shared she never had a pair of glasses because of a non-supportive husband. She was completely overcome by joy when she put on her new glasses!
Carolyn Rebelo invited our local liaison Armando to experience the emotion of giving the gift of sight. It seems he is doing pretty well!
Time for a typical Mexican dinner in Puebla. Destination: the restaurant of the Hotel Coloniale.
We got upgraded: instead of our usual bus, we went back to the hotel with a cab..well, many cabs!
Dr Pam Heyne-Thompson personally brought a pair of glasses with her to the clinic. She found the perfect recipient into Filogario, 57 years old. His vision is extremely poor, and even if he already has one pair, she offered this as a back up. We know that last time Filogario broke his glasses, he had to wait months in complete dark before being able to get a replacement.

13 Comments

  1. Row says:

    Hi Shelly Sherratt

    We in SA just want to say how proud we are of you for doing this good deed

    keep up the good work

    Best regards
    Rowan

    Posted on Fri May 27, 2011 9:11 am EST

  2. Davide Bolis says:

    Great Job Greta!!!!!

    Davide

    Posted on Fri May 27, 2011 9:19 am EST

  3. Erin says:

    You guys are doing such a great job!  Aidan and I are so proud of you, Jeremy!  We love and miss you!!!

    Posted on Fri May 27, 2011 9:45 am EST

  4. Stefania says:

    I started a new tradition: reading your blog first thing in the morning when I get to the office!! Keep the stories coming!! PS: Greta, avrai bisogno di una vacanza after all this hard work!! I am working on it!!! :)))

    Posted on Fri May 27, 2011 10:41 am EST

  5. Beth Miller & Jim Halligan says:

    Messege for Leah Harris.
    MONKEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Love and miss ya!!!
    Beth & Jim

    Posted on Fri May 27, 2011 10:45 am EST

  6. Barbara W says:

    Wow, some great stories of people in definate need! Keep up the great work Team. Lots of love to you Alli W. Love and miss you,
    Mamasita

    Posted on Fri May 27, 2011 12:46 pm EST

  7. Marianna Monego says:

    Buon lavoro Marinella!! ciaoooooooooooo!!

    Posted on Fri May 27, 2011 2:01 pm EST

  8. SaraS says:

    Where’s our BOND GIRL?!?!?!?!?
    Un abbraccio a tutto il team, bravi ragazzi state facendo un ottimo lavoro!
    Leggere il vostro blog e vedere le vostre foto mi emoziona: tra qualche mese sarà la volta della clinica Mexico #2 e allora sara il mio turno di stare dall’altra parte dell’Oceano…non vedo l’ora!
    Continuate così... anzi sempre meglio ;)

    Posted on Fri May 27, 2011 2:03 pm EST

  9. SaraS says:

    Where’s our BOND GIRL?!?!?!?!?
    Un abbraccio a tutto il team, bravi ragazzi state facendo un ottimo lavoro!
    Leggere il vostro blog e vedere le vostre foto mi emoziona: tra qualche mese sarà la volta della clinica Mexico #2 e allora sara il mio turno di stare dall’altra parte dell’Oceano…non vedo l’ora!
    Continuate così... anzi sempre meglio ;)

    Posted on Fri May 27, 2011 2:07 pm EST

  10. Corinne .G. says:

    Great pic’s, Carolyn! Seeing these people so happy, able to see clearly again, put’s a smile on my face. Keep up the good work! Oh, and Monkey looks good in his orange tee. ;)

    Posted on Fri May 27, 2011 2:16 pm EST

  11. Unkle says:

    The custom writing service says they could receive even more.

    Posted on Sun May 29, 2011 11:24 am EST

  12. Monica Bond...ioli says:

    Sara, non sarai mica ´preoccupata che non mi vedi in foto?! Ringrazia il cielo, invece!!! Scherzi a parte, come co-coordinatore sto vivendo la clinica da un altro punto di vista e francamente non ho ancora capito se mi piace o no…mi manca il dispensing, SIGH! comunque, ogni tanto prendo il posto di qualche volontario, grazie a Madre Natura che ci ha programmato anche per andare in bagno ;-)) cosi mi pago la voglia di lavorare un po’ nelle varie postazioni e metto a frutto il mio corso di Spagnolo, ESTA BIEN! Mi consola il fatto che il resto del team Europeo si sta veramente facendo onore, ragazzi siete veramente in gambissima!!! Greta, sappi che ti ho incluso nella parte europea del team: vivrai pure a NY, ma Italiana sei e Italiana resti :-))
    Ciao Italian guys a presto!

    Posted on Sun May 29, 2011 10:17 pm EST

  13. Annette Day says:

    Hi this is Annette Day please tell PAUL BASTON we missssssss him

    Posted on Thu Jun 2, 2011 8:49 pm EST

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