Healthy_Eye_Care_Class.jpgDAY ONE:
Tired but rejoicing. We checked approximately 300 children for vision needs. Unfortunately we had some mix-up in record keeping re those who needed glasses so don’t have an exact count, but made some executive decisions to get that straightened out. We now have a flow chart that will help everyone—local volunteers as well as the GAiN team—keep better records and control. However I’m told by some who have been on the project in the past, that this was the least chaotic first day they’ve experienced.

We had a number of university students, and a few high school students, serving as translators. The university students, especially, were terrific. We had a couple of dental students/interns who examined all of the students, noting those who needed the most care. We were told, rightfully, that students’ parents must give permission before any dental work could be done, so there was concern that they might not be able to treat any students until Tuesday. As it turns out, a number of parents were present so the dentists were busy the whole day.

The surgical team repaired two cleft lips, one a 3-month old whose parents drove four hours from a neighboring country to get to the hospital. The second child was 6-months; his parents had walked three hours to the hospital. Surgery went very well on both.

We don’t have a very good internet connection so reporting may be sporadic.

AutoRefraction.jpgDAY TWO:
Swimming in kids today! Several eye issues addressed. One young boy with 20/350 vision (didn’t even know that was possible!) walked out wide eyed, seeing and smiling. The mother couldn’t stop hugging little Marti (who had made and fit the boy’s glasses) before leaving the room.

Two more serious surgeries accomplished by the doctors, but all seems to have gone well. Dr. Rizzuti was called back to the hospital tonight; pray that all healing is complete. (Update: needed mostly to reassure parents that everything is normal.)

Dentists were nearly overrun with children! Finally decided to send only the most serious cases to our over worked crew and even with that, the team arrived back in the staff room almost 2 hours after everyone else.

Two of our crew–musically talented guys–had 50 kids uproariously singing E-E-E-I-O and Do Re Me and the Mickey Mouse Club Song!

Pray for more interpreters & other support personnel (go-fers), good relationships with school personnel.

The team is gracious, hard working, positive and fun!