Clinic Blog: 2012 Walking Shield Clinic Blog

March 13, 2012

It is our last day of clinic. The 2 weeks went by so fast. Today an elementary school came through with some of the cutest kids ever. Dr. Richard had a great story; while examining an 11 year old boy named Axel, he heard a wonderful reinforcement of our OneSight mission. Without any solicitation he looked around the exam lane and said: “I would like to work her because I know people need help. Since I am the one being helped now I would like to help others”!!! Later that day, Dr. Richard found a representative from the school and asked her if she knew Axel, she did. He told her what he had said and asked her if there were any opportunities in the school for an 11 year old to do volunteer work. She said that there was and thanked him for this lead. He felt this child has a great future ahead of him!!

As the last patient left clinic we began cleaning up the exam rooms, the lab, EyeVan, did inventory and packed up all the equipment so EyeVan could move onto San Diego for the next clinic in a couple weeks. The Walking Shield clinic was a huge success. We saw a total of 847 patients (504 were children and 307 were adults). Our wonderful lab team was able to complete 100% of the glasses needed for a total of 641 pairs of glasses. A need of 79%. One pair of glasses was a total power of +12.00 and another pair was -20.00. Great job lab team!!

After leaving clinic we headed to our final team dinner and pinning ceremony. Everyone was a little sad to be saying good-bye but excited to get home to their loved ones. An early Friday morning flight from Mammoth Lake airport and we all headed in different directions to begin our travel home.

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March 8, 2012

Clinic Is Coming To An End

By kmarshall

Clinic is slowly coming to an end. The second to last day of clinic and 2 schools came through today. We saw 119 patients with 37 walk-ins. Unfortunately I have not been able to download any more pictures, so when I get home I promise you will see pictures.

We had fun at our silent auction last night. Lots of fast and furious bidding. Some of the items went for a lot of money. The Walking Shield golf shirt started a bidding war between Michelle and Mona, Marvin from Walking Shield said he would get a second shirt so we made double the money on that item, and both were happy. We were able to raise $1,716 from the auction and with our Oscar night and Trivia night we raised $1,826 for OneSight.

Here are a couple more notes from home:

Just wanted to thank all my friends, family and co-workers for all the support while I’m at clinic in Walking Shield. Really enjoying helping, but missing you all. We have found a great need for eye health in this area. I enjoy being part of OneSight; it makes me fell great to give back to those in need. Thank you. – Terrence Mills, Pearle Vision #6415

Awesome!! – Dr. Noel Henry, Target Optical #C4224

Short and sweet describes this remarkably Walking Shield experience for me in Bishop, CA. I came for the patients seeking the gift of sight, but there is renewal and expanded horizons from interacting with team members from all brands. I cannot thank this team enough for all the contribute. However it’s the kids like Ha Wee (Dove) who takes the time to create a hand crafted thank-you card because she was so enthusiastically thrilled with how her glasses made a difference in her world. It’s the little things we take for granted. Her world of coloring, playing and learning was better because she could see better. So for all the “Ha Wee’s”; they punctuate the experience of giving back. From the beautiful countryside, the insight into life styles of Native Americans, the team and the many lives we touch, it’s been another amazing experience for me.

If you were to sense the past, teach a slave

If you were to see the present, touch a rose

If you were to glimpse the eternal, touch a life

Keep on doing what you’re doing in Lux and touch lives and help the world see better, one patient at a time. Best personal regards to all, Vincent Facchiano OD FAAO, Optometry #LC44; Pearle Vision #8633

Thanks to my team in the OneSight Dept for taking care of things for me in the office so I’m able to be here helping to change lives! I’m so blessed to work for such a wonderful organization! Those here in Bishop and on the Bishop Indian Reservation have been so wonderful! They have treated us great and we are so lucky to be here. Everyday someone thanks me for being here, but in all honesty I’m the one that is thankful. Coming on this clinic has allowed me to give back to a people that have had so much taken from them. Yet they are so happy and filled with such pride for their heritage. What an honor it has been! Even though I miss my family and friends and am looking forward to returning home, I will be sad to leave the many wonderful new family members and friends I have made. This is always an extra blessing! Michelle Carter, OneSight Inventory Planner

I am really enjoying my OneSight family here in California. Our lab family has really taken on many challenges and the glasses come out fabulous. My big brother Terrance is awesome and works wonders on each pair of glasses. My big sister Teena is very passionate and ensures that everything is running very smoothly. My cousin Steve comes in and inspects the lenses to ensure accuracy for the prescription, both cousins Elisha and Jolie prepare the lenses for blocking and have done a great job. Our real close friends Dr. Tom, Dr. Laura and Shannon come in and help us by edging and inspecting lenses. Our Aunt Michelle has been helping us out with the cylinder machine on the vision van and ensuring that our inventory is on point. Our Uncle John is hilarious and is some character. He has been a big help with fixing our equipment and making sure everything flows, as it should. Uncle John and my big brother Terrance can work every machine in the lab and has been a huge help in our lab. Our mom Leanne was out today and we want her to know that she was greatly missed, but she taught us well and we carried the torch. With the support of my lab family, we have impacted the community by putting others first and helping the world see. I am so excited about the many eyeglasses we have made and how all of us with different backgrounds came together for one great cause. Love you OneSight. – Anita Armstrong, Pearle Vision

Hi everyone at home! I am having the most amazing experience here in Bishop. We have seen adults and kids and I have learned so much! Not only am I doing stereopsis (FADI!), visual acuity and color blindness testing, but also I learned to work the tonometer and the auto-refractor, and how to make lenses! In great Jenn form, I cleaned blocks and didn’t follow directions and did it the hard way! (Poked thru my gloves and stabbed myself!), I am exhausted but so proud to have been a part of this clinic. I have made great friends that I will keep always and have had the best roommate ever. It’s weird how alike we are – rocks! See you all Friday night – ooh and a triple dirty hippie is great coffee at the Looney Bean, - Jen Knorr, CSC Mason

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March 6, 2012

Letters To Home

By kmarshall

Manahu (Good Morning), each morning the Team begins clinic by dancing to the “Cha Cha” shuffle to wake us up and get us excited for clinic to start. We all are going to be great dancers by the end of the week. We exceeded our goal for the again, seeing 81 patients. So far we have seen a total of 658 paatients. Team dinner and silent auction are planned for this evening.

Here are some notes from the team. Enjoy!

Hello Friends & Family Back Home! Things are going great her in Bishop. Yes I’m eating really well. Probably too much. Seeing lots of patients, adults, teens and kids. Was able to prescribe many pairs of much needed glasses and catching a lot of diabetic, glaucoma and cataract patients. See everyone in about inn about a week. Keep running Jess! – Dr. Tom Srun, Sears #515

Hi Everyone! BISHOP IS BEAUTIFUL! Kind of like Canmore. We have seen lots of gorgeous children. Everyone is happy to have us here. I am enjoying getting to know all the other Luxottica employees too. See you soon. – Mona Davis, Lenscrafters #922

Hey Everyone! Clinic is great! Met some great people…Friends for life! Helping these people here in Bishop is the best feeling ever. Can’t believe it’s been six years since I’ve done this. It’s like riding a bike you never forget! See you soon. – Shannon Litke, Lenscrafters #932

Hey everyone at home. The people in Bishop are incredible. Learning lots about the local history. The weather has been very nice for the majority of our stay. The scenery is beautiful, lots of snow-capped mountains. – Christine Laughlin, SGH #3450

Hi Schenk Family, wish you were here. Beautiful land, beautiful people. Great place to be. Snow-capped mountains are really cool. Sending love to all and the kitties. Mom/Gina Schenk, CSC OneSight

Hello Family & Friends. I am having a great time in Bishop, it is Beautiful here! Everyone here is very nice, I am learning a lot about the local history. Can’t wait to see you all soon! – Amy Mohler, LC Dr. Office #765

Hello Darling wife, family and facebook friends, for those who contributed to this mission, a special thanks. I will have over 500 photos to post and will be glad to relay my wonderful experiences – saw lots of the valley on sightseeing trips and also experienced Native American culture first hand. By the end of this mission, over 1200 people who could not afford it will have had quality eyecare and eyeglasses. Made many new friends but still looking forward to being back in New York. Guess what, me and my 2 left feet are learning to line and hip-hop dance. It’s a requirement before starting work – tough life. Watch for the video on YouTube. Area is gorgeous, will give a full reports later. – Dr. David Miller, Sears #0075

Dear Sue, I am having a great time. Tee said where are you? LOL! I miss the store and I will be back on the 14^th. Take care and talk to you later. - Elisha (Sunshine) Collier, Store #4000 Lab

Hey Mom, Dad, Jarod, Carson and Dave! We’re having a great time at clinic so far! Thanks to LC #910 for holding down the fort while I’m away. Love to all! – Leanne Wood, LC #910

Gail, Jess, Kell and Moll, love and miss you lots, love Dad. A shout out to my peeps at Pearle #6415 for holding down the fort while I am at clinic. – Terrence Mills, Pearle #6415

Hey Colleen, the mountains are beautiful. Miss you lots. Say hi to Mom, Jeff and the boys, tell them I love them lots. – Teena aka Ma Barkley Canada L&D

Hi Kathleen, thank-you for the support. Miss you, Camden and Gracie. Love you all. – Steve Suprenant, Lenscrafters #868

Hi Dumplin, I really appreciate you allowing me to come to California to help the world to see. Tell everyone I said hi and I miss them. SN: Dallas Lab I miss you; especially customer service. – Anita Armstrong, Dallas LOM

Hi Knorr’s, Dailey’s and friends. I miss all of you and I am having a wonderful experience here in Bishop. I will be home before you know it!! Jen Knorr, Mason CSC

“Brooks was Here” – Marlin Mosher, SGH #5152 RT

Bishop is a beautiful, quaint city surrounded by mountains. I am so excited and grateful for the great opportunity to serve these beautiful people. Everyone is so welcoming. I am having a great time but miss you all. – Dr. Laura Romain LensCrafters #5595

Hi Family, Friends and Co-workers, Bishop is beautiful. We are surround by magnificent mountains. Clinic has been great; we have see so many wonderful people. Thanks Dale for your all support, love you. Miss you all and will see you in a few days. – Kathy Marshall, CSC Mason

I am working with a great team of Optometrists! We have seen several patients with very high prescriptions. I’m so impressed with our with OneSight lab. We have made an Rx with –6.00 cyl and an Rx for a 20-dioptor myope --- on sight and delivered the next day. – Dr. Richard Roush, LensCrafters #427

Manahu Friends and Family! Having a great time helping the people in Bishop, California! Thank you all for the love and support of this amazing opportunity! See you on Friday! – Jolie Curammeng, ILORI/OSA #7121

Second week of Walking Shield Clinic in Bishop, CA and everyone is working together to give the gift of sight to the Native Americans and community here in this wonderful town. We have truly been inspired by the communities support to help their own people in Bishop. It’s been a great experience and I will treasure the relationships we have formed with Toiyabe and Walking Shield. Thank-you for opening your hearts and welcoming the team to your beautiful town! – Melissa Standridge, OneSight

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March 6, 2012

Celebration

By kmarshall

Today was a great day at clinic. Our goal for the day was 75 patients, but we actually saw 85. We have an awesome Team! Everyone is jumping in and helping wherever needed. Many life-long friendships are being made.

We received a wonderful surprise this afternoon. A 7-year-old patient came back to clinic to give us a thank you card she had made to thank us for her new glasses. It read, “Thank you I can see a lot better than before. I like the color because I like blue and black and it is not blurry and my friend likes them and all I like is everything. I like them a lot lot lot and I hope you get home safely and I took a picture for you”. She added a picture of herself in her new glasses. It makes me so proud to be able to help so many people.

Another interesting story from clinic today was when a 77-year-old patient came in wearing a really cool hat. It was a baseball type hat the was beaded and hand stitched with Native American Veteran on it. He told us he was a Marine in the Korean War and when he got home, he enlisted in the army. It’s wonderful hearing the stories of some of the elderly patients. They are so grateful we are here.

Our Team was treated to a wonderful dinner and celebration from our partners with Toiyabe Indian Health Project. The Paiute ShoShone Cultural Center was opened to us and members of the tribe performed original Native American dances for us in full regalia. It was beautiful to watch and very interesting to hear the interpretation of the dances.

I will post pictures as soon as I can.

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March 4, 2012

Week One Comes To A Close

By kmarshall

Saturday was the last day of week one of our clinic here in Bishop. It has been a great week. We saw 485 patients in the first week and 376 needed glasses. A need of 76%. Dr. Dave saw a patient on Saturday with a –20.00 and a –19.00. We also recommended that a patient be fitted in a medically necessary contact lenses. We also dispensed a +12.00 pair of glasses on Saturday for a patient who is aphakiec and is 90 years old. Our highest cylindrical patient as of Saturday is –7.00. So in Bishop, CA OneSight is able to provide significant range from –20.00 to +12.00 and cylinder to –7.00. Now that’s impressive!

A follow-up to the patient who needed the +12.00. We did not have the correct lenses so our awesome lab techs with a little help from Macgyver were able to make him a great pair of glasses, which will make a huge difference in his life.

Sunday is a much needed off day for the team. Will be ready to start our final week on Monday. Stay tuned for more news from clinic and some of the adventures from our day off.

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March 1, 2012

Toiyabe and Walking Shield Partners

By kmarshall

Today we had 85 patients come to clinic and we were able to make 70 pairs of glasses in the lab. We have completed all but 8 pairs so far.

A couple follow-up stories. The mother of our 14-year-old glaucoma patient came back to clinic today. She told Dr. Chris that she had gone home yesterday and did some research on glaucoma and was very thankful that he was able to diagnose her son. Mr. Fry a patient from Tuesday came back in today to pick up his new pair of glasses. He was so happy he went through clinic and thanked every one of us.

A mother of a walk-in patient stopped Noel, our Toiyabe coordinator, in the parking lot to thank us for being here. She said her son just moved back to the area and was able to get an exam and be seen by a doctor and was badly in need of new glasses. She could not say thank-you enough.

One of our partners here in CA is Toiyabe Indian Health Project, Inc. a non-profit corporation jointly controlled by seven federally recognized Indian Tribes to provide healthcare services. Toiyabe currently operates three clinic locations located in Bishop, Lone Pine and Camp Antelope in Coleville, CA. The geographical service area covers nearly 14,000 square miles in eastern central California to Death Valley National Park. The tribes include Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley, Bishop Pauite Tribe, Bridgeport Indian Colony, Ft. Independence Indian Reservation, Lone Pine Pauite-Shoshone Tribe and the Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe.

Walking Shield, another partner’s, mission is to improve the quality of life for American Indian families by coordinating programs that provide shelter, healthcare, community development support, educational assistance, and humanitarian aid. Working closely with tribal leaders, Walking Shield provides a variety of services to American Indian families.

John Castillo, Ph.D., Walking Shield, Inc.’s Executive Director is spending sometime with us this week. Dr. Castillo, who is of Apache heritage, has worked for Walking Shield since 1999 and is fully dedicated to improving the quality of life on American Indian reservations.

A huge thank you to the local Bishop Lions Club for providing all of our lunches.

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March 1, 2012

Finally some clinic pictures.

By kmarshall

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March 1, 2012

You are never too young to develop glaucoma

By kmarshall

Today we had 2 young patients referred for glaucoma evaluation. A 9-year-old girl was mildly suspicious and a 14-year-old boy there was no doubt he has moderate to advanced glaucoma in his right eye and early glaucoma in his left. This is very rare in children, but we have a great group of doctors and thankfully were able to find this. Now these children will be able to receive treatment for this condition. We saw 97 patients today and were able to produce 58 more pairs of glasses in our lab. We will begin to dispense glasses tomorrow to the patients we saw yesterday. Can't wait to see the smiles on their faces when they put on their new glasses.

As promised here is some Tribal History: The Paiute people who live on the Bishop Paiute Reservation are descendants of the “Nu-Mu”, the original people of the Owens Valley. In 1912, the US Government reserved over 67,000 acres of land in the Owens Valley for the Indians of this area. In 1932, President Hoover revoked the 67,000 acres of reserved lands and placed the lands in watershed protection status for the City of Los Angeles. In 1936, the City of Los Angeles wanted the remaining lands and the federal government traded these lands for the 875 acres that now comprise the Bishop Paiute Reservation located at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Today the Paiute people are the fifth largest California Tribe, with 2,000 members and one of the smallest land bases. Despite the land predicament the Tribal government has upgraded technical capabilities and developed infrastructure for the present and future growth of the Bishop Paiute Reservation.

One of our patients today Francis Stone Sr. was telling Amy Mohler he has lived on this reservation for the past 50 years. He said when his grandfather was a child they would line everyone up and give out names. He said when his granddad was very young his teacher asked him his name and she couldn’t understand him, so some kids said, “he lives over by the rock pile”and the teacher said your name is Tom Stone!

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February 28, 2012

1st Day of Clinic

By kmarshall

We loaded up the vans and headed to clinic. We are a team of many veterans and a couple newbies all excited to get started. There were several amazing stories today here are a couple.

An elderly lady came into clinic today in a wheelchair and was unable to get close enough to the NCT (tonometry) machine that measures the pressure in your eyes. Dr. Noel Henry decided to hold the NCT on his lap while Shannon and Steve pushed the buttons. Working as a team they were able to get an accurate reading on her.

John Kennedy and is son came in today. John was born on the reservation and does not have a birth certificate. He thinks he is about 93 years old. John had cataract surgery and has aphakia (no lens implants) and has never had glasses. We are going to try and get the lenses needed to be able to make a pair of glasses for him.

Today was a great day we saw a total of 73 patients and completed 58 pairs of glasses in the lab. Tomorrow about 200 children are coming to the clinic. Will be back with more stories and a little history of the tribes we are serving tomorrow.

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February 27, 2012

Our team has arrived.

By kmarshall

The team arrived safe and sound on Sunday and was met at the Mammoth Lakes airport by the leadership team. After arriving at the hotel and getting checked-in the team met in the lobby for an Oscar party. $60.00 was raised for OneSight after fast and furious ballot voting. Monday morning we loaded up the vans and headed to the clinic site for orientation and training. We will be starting clinic at 8:00 Tuesday morning and will see about 75 adults. Our clinic is a little different than other Regional Clinics as we will be seeing adults and well as children. During the next two weeks we will be see about 900 children and 300 adults.

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February 25, 2012

One Day to Go!

By kmarshall

The team will be leaving in the morning for our adventure to Bishop, CA. The leadership team arrived yesterday and is busy setting up the clinic for our arrival tomorrow evening. They have shared their insights into Bishop by describing it as a beautiful area and a great little town with lots of places to explore, snuggled between beautiful mountains. As you follow our team blog I will try to capture as many wonderful moments as possible from the clinic along with history of the Pauite Bishop Inidan Tribes and hopefully many pictures. So stayed tuned for our life changing experiences.

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February 22, 2012

Only 4 days to go!

By kmarshall

Welcome to the 2012 Walking Shield Clinic blog. Our team of about 30 Luxottica associates from across the US and Canada will be leaving on Sunday to begin our journey of giving the Gift of Sight to the Native American Tribes of Bishop, CA. Around the world and in our own country, millions of people suffer from poor vision because they do not have access to eye care or simply cannot afford it. That is why OneSight is so important to us.

I hope you enjoy the stories and pictures as we travel along on our journey. To our family, friends and co-workers thank you for all your support and for holding down the fort while we are gone. We will miss you.

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Clinic Blog: 2012 Walking Shield Clinic Blog

March 13, 2012

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About the Clinic

2012 Walking Shield Clinic Blog Clinic