We Can't Help Everyone

Today, Wednesday 12/10, was an especially hard day for our doctors.
So, far they have helped alot of people to see and caught life threatening cases of high blood pressure, diabetes and a detached retina. They are able to refer these patients on for future care from local doctors and feel confident that the outcome will be positive. But today, our young optometrist, Dr. Nishil P. (Dr. Nish) was hit hard by two special patients. The first patient was brought in by her young daughter. As Dr. Nish examined the mother he noticed that her nerve endings were white, which meant they were dead and would not rejuvenate to allow sight. Dr. Nish knew this lady was destined for a lifetime without sight. When the young daughter asked if her mother could have an operation to restore her sight, Dr. Nish was forced to reply that the mother would never see again. As the daughter broke down into tears, Dr. Nish couldn't help but shed a few tears himself. The tears continued to flow as Dr. Nish's next patient was also blind.

Those of us who are not doctors cannot fully understand the impact that these experiences are having on our doctors. These docs have gone to school and dedicated their lives to preventing the conditions they see here in Mexico. The cataracts, painful infections, growths and blindness could be easily prevented in the States, but here a fact of life. Dr. Rose said that we team members see the end affect on the patient's ability to see, but the doctor see the affect inside of the eye. They can see the future negatives waiting down the road for patients who are seeing well today. It's hard for them to know that the best they can offer is a pair of sunglasses and the chance for a future cataract operation by local docs.

Dr. George said that it's normal for us all to shed tears over the patients of Mexico because they have really touched our hearts. Dr. Rose felt this personal impact as she examined a family of Indian patients. The family had a genetic condition which caused them all to have extremely poor vision. They were nearly all legally blind. She felt a special connection to these patients because of her Cherokee heritage. As she looked at this family she noticed that they didn't have shoes and that even the children had missing and rotted teeth. She learned that the native Indian population is often viewed as "untouchable". They are viewed my many as being of the lowest class. When she introduced herself as a doctor of Indian heritage, their eyes grew wide. When she hugged them, they smiled and wished her blessings. Their eyes followed her as she moved about the clinic and they smiled the whole time. She later learned that these people aren't used to be touched, spoken to with respect or smiled upon. And in one day, they were touched by an American Indian doctor, received eye exams and eyeglasses. It was truly a day that would impact all for them for life.

Thank you all for supporting One Sight and creating moments like these.