Eye of the beholder

The clinic in 2018 is undergoing some changes.  Some small, some medium, and hopefully some big.  

One small change won't be small for long.  Doctor Alejandra had her baby earlier this month.  Everything went well, and we hope she will be back seeing eye patients in March.  




In the mean time, Valerie soldiers on, with the help of Manuel, in his role as op tech, as well as yet another graduate from the same program Alejandra attended for some optometric training...Sarai.  She is helping daily as a volunteer, for the training and experience, but obviously one does not do this daily without a passion for it as well.  While not a MD like Alejandra, there is still quite a bit she can do in a support role, and is getting quite the on-the-job training as well.  



One example of the patients that come for treatment, this husband and wife have adopted 17 kids over the years, have sent them to school with money earned from the wife's pulpería and have seen them graduate as professionals. 

The girl on the right is their daughter and the boy lives where the lady grew up. He has bad eye allergies (and also had a very high and odd prescription and did not know it.)  They brought him to the clinic from 2 hours away.


Our progress on the new ultrasound hunt has been huge...a great looking unit has been donated in the US!   It is not portable however, so we are looking at the best/safest/cost feasible way to get it here, and sending back the old portable unit we had to see if it can be fixed as well.  With the generous donations we received, once we have either unit back and working we will be proceeding apace to hire a doctor full time, which will be a big step for the clinic.  

And thanks to Dr. Darwin's direction,  the clinic is getting some much needed fine touches (probably hard to see in this picture, but easy to see when here for sure) a fresh coat of paint on the first floor, including the windows and doors, and some finishing details that have been lagging getting done on the side of the building's concrete and metal structure to bring it all up to match and for long term protection, with more to come (with God's help/funding of course.)  

We are also looking to hire a professional to paint signs on the building as well as outside on the corner wall as you approach the property.  Hopefully more to come on that soon!  

If you want to see some more pictures, the clinic also has its own Facebook page, mostly for patient use to be able to find out more information, directions, etc.  You can visit it here.  

Please pray for the clinic...that God would continue to use it to show His glory and work, and to encourage all the staff of the clinic as they work not only to provide physical relief, but emotional support as well, and ultimately spiritual light to all those they strive to serve.  It is at the same time as easy as it sounds, and sometimes very difficult as well to balance all those.  

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