October 24, 2011

Stories from the Heart

By twible

Members of team Mtubatuba are having an amazing time helping people see the world better.  Team members are collecting story after story of touching moments of their time here in Mtubatuba.  These stories will stay with them for years to come (and their families and loved ones will hear for a long time). 

Rob Martens, Luxottica Optical Manufacturing, Winnipeg, Canada.

Reading all of my teammates previous blogs makes it very clear that this has been a very emotional experience for everyone involved. As the Engineer on the team, I feel obligated to bring a certain level of practicality to my commentary. Here are a few observations regarding participating in a clinic in a tropical location…

  • Clean water is your friend. Do not take it for granted. Remaining hydrated is extremely important in 30 C heat. We have essentially cleared out the bottled water supply of both the hotel and the town. This is a necessity as we are not willing to risk the quality of the local water supply. If you don’t think this is a big issue, think of having to brush your teeth and clean your toothbrush every morning using bottled water. A clean tap source becomes a precious commodity.
  • Haggling at the local craft market is a lot of fun. There is a lot of satisfaction to be had in getting that carved elephant down from 100 Rand to 75. However, the satisfaction of saving essentially $2 (nothing to us), is quickly lost when you realize that 25 Rand you saved today could have fed that family tomorrow. Everything here is a matter of scale…
  • Never underestimate the value of a bathroom door. We take them for granted. They apparently do not exist in South Africa, even in what I consider to be the equivalent of a 3 star hotel by North American Standards. The hotel bathrooms are in a corner of the room, but do not have a door. The facilities at the clinics barely have walls, never mind doors (or TP for that matter…). Daily activities are frequently planned based on the availability and timing of reaching a modern bathroom.
  • The quickest way to make new friends in a crowd is to be the only person who remembered to bring a bottle opener or cork screw.
  • Shoes are not something to take for granted. The schoolyards have been sand, and often filled with bits of broken glass. Many of the children here are barefoot.
  • Bandwidth is precious. The hotel lobby has a wireless connection that has proven to be the lifeline for many of us to our loved ones. With the time difference, the e-mail you send at bedtime becomes the wonderful reply you get before breakfast. How did we survive before smartphones. Many of us did not bother with cameras because our phones are extremely practical cameras too…

This continues to be a wonderful experience. As the “medic”, I’ve been fortunate to have nothing more to do than dispense the occasional band-aid. We’re all tired but have remained very safe. Let’s hope we finish just as strong !

Love to everyone in Winnipeg – I know it will be snowing when I get home !

Ann Rice, LensCrafters  GM,  Glendale, AZ

For me the experience is more than just about the connection that we have with our patients, it is about the connection that we have with each other (38 other people that most of us have never met).  Onesight brought together people from all parts of the world, the US, Italy, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France, Poland, New Zealand and South Africa to bring the gift of sight to the people of Mtubatuba, South Africa in Kwazulu Natal. The team had one day to get it together to work as team of ambassadors for Onesight, it was amazing how everyone worked together in such a short time. It is hard to explain how much each person brings to the team, not only in skill but in personality.  I could not have imagined the connection and how much each person would mean to me.  We have 3 clinic sites where most Onesight Clinics have only 1 or 2 sites.  We have to set-up and tear down 3 times and for the weekend do a mini tear down, our team got it down to 40 minutes and no one ever complained.  To see team members jump in to help each other with a patient, or with an adjustment, to help lift a box or direct someone & the stories they share at the end of the day, each one more heartfelt than the next. It is rare to see so many personalities meld together so fast and with such ease. I believe that it is the uniqueness of the team members and the passion for the cause.  I am so thrilled that I have had the pleasure to meet each and every team member and hope to stay connected to them after the mission is over. If you have ever been on an OneSight Mission you are probably thinking that’s how my team was, but, the reality is – we truly are a team that works as a team and really enjoys the time together.  As IMS lead I rarely see the patient with the end result, but I know they are receiving quality of care from our team.

Tom Wible, Sunglass Hut, Mason, OH

Today I was dispensing glasses and I was getting a pair of sunglasses for a woman who was about 65 years old.  I found a nice pair of Vogue frames that, while large, would give her full eye coverage.  When I put them on her, she started talking very fast to the translator.  The translator, Claire, began to laugh.  Claire told me that the woman felt the glasses were too big for her face and that if she was running and chasing after her cows, they would fall off her face and break so she would like a smaller pair.  I chucked as well and told her that we couldn't have them falling off while she was running after her cows, so I found a smaller frame that would allow her to run, jump and enjoy herself.  Fellow team member Roche Mopp handed me an eyeglass chain to put on her sunglasses so if they did fall off her face, they wouldn't fall to the ground. 

Tom and a happy patient (who can now safely chase her cows should she need to)
Patients waiting for the clinic to open

10 Comments

  1. Amy Guerrero says:

    Aloha from Hawaii!!

    Thank you to all the team members who have taken time to share this wonderful experience with us all.  I’m sure your days are long and tiring, but I really enjoy hearing your stories.  It keeps us here at home connected to the spirit of One Sight and inspires us to do all we can to continue to support this amazing cause.  Keep the stories and pictures coming….we love it!!

    May Thomas…you’re in our thoughts every day :) stay safe my friend.

    Posted on Tue Oct 25, 2011 3:36 am EST

  2. Thomas Precht says:

    Great blog guys, you’re setting the bar high for the next SA team. Just make sure you take good care of Mrs. Odette, we need her in one piece for next months clinic!( OK you can watch out for Dave and Leona as well….leaders do need looking after, after all.)

    Posted on Tue Oct 25, 2011 12:51 pm EST

  3. jt says:

    Give thanks that you are all helping those in need. I hope that the children can see better to educate themselves and improve their communities. I hope the aged can see better to enjoy the faces and lives of their families and loved ones. It takes faith AND works. You all have an abundance of both.
    Aloha

    Posted on Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:18 pm EST

  4. Delicia Pirie says:

    To Ricardo, Lynne,Roche and Odette, good luck and have fun. We miss you all in the office.

    Posted on Wed Oct 26, 2011 12:48 am EST

  5. Delica Pirie says:

    To Dr Jim Hancock and Carol fan. All the best in Mtubatuba, miss you ....Take care

    Posted on Wed Oct 26, 2011 12:50 am EST

  6. Talita van Wyk says:

    Enjoy every moment of the last few days everyone! SA team - we are extremely proud of you all!!! Miss you Roche. Can’t wait to hear all the special memorable stories.xxx

    Posted on Wed Oct 26, 2011 8:17 am EST

  7. Rob Wible says:

    Way to go Tom. Just know that your family here in Pittsburgh is proud of you. Rob, Joanne, and Nora

    Posted on Wed Oct 26, 2011 10:53 pm EST

  8. Miles Thomas says:

    Mahalo nui loa to my mother May Thomas and the rest of the team helping out in South Africa.  Your guys efforts are really helping in this area of need.  Thank you providing the gift of sight to a wholesome, loving, and miss understood population.  The gift of better sight is one of a kind! Keep up the good work!

    Posted on Thu Oct 27, 2011 12:03 am EST

  9. Elton Willenburgh says:

    Go team Mtubatuba!!! To all the SA champs on clinic, wishing you all the best!

    Posted on Fri Oct 28, 2011 6:09 am EST

  10. William V. Sobers says:

    I salute all the members of team Mtubatuba. Keep up the good work and helping other people.

    http://www.small-bathroom-designs.com/

    Posted on Wed Nov 9, 2011 5:00 pm EST

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