SOCIAL

  REFLECTIONS: THE HUMAN SIDE OF OPTOMETRY

A DIFFERENT VIEW

MY DAUGHTER AND I PARTICIPATED IN A MEDICAL MISSION TO HAITI

DAY ONE on a mission trip to Cap-Haïtien, my daughter, Lily, 13, and I were ushered past the endless line of patients, through the crumbling makeshift clinic and into separate rooms to begin our mission. I worked with some of the about 1,700 patients we would see that week, all the while worrying for Lily’s safety in the other room, hoping she could work her station (or even communicate with the patients) without guidance.

But, as it turned out, I need not worry. She instilled dilating drops and measured IOP for all said patients without incident or complaint. She made me proud throughout our mission!

MY “MISSION”

Participating in a medical mission has been a goal of mine since optometry school. In January, the opportunity presented itself with a VOSH-PA and Optometry Giving Sight mission to Haiti. Confident a mission trip would have a profound effect on her, I asked my daughter to join me. In preparation, she spent her free time prior to the trip at my office learning how to perform pre-testing.

ON THE GROUND

Our team consisted of four optometrists, two optometry students, two college students and Lily. Each team member embraced the challenging work conditions and put forth his or her best efforts to provide care to the desperately in need Haitian people.

Our wonderful team served 1,668 patients in a week. Nearly all the patients suffered from dry, itchy eyes. Glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes and trachoma were quite common. More than 160 referrals for surgery were made.

LILY’S EXPERIENCE

As for Lily, “I plan on spending my future years helping people all over the world one exam, meal or home at a time,” she says. “The entire time I was there I worked hard. The clinics were falling apart under my feet, and we saw hundreds of people each day, but that wasn’t what stood out to me on this trip. What I experienced throughout this trip was not the poverty, but the happiness of the people I met along the way.” OM

Lily hands out treats to Haitian children.

Dr. Heddinghaus checking the eye health of a patient.

Dr. Shawna Heddinghaus with daughter, Lily, in Haiti.

Team photo from the mission trip to Cap-Haïtien.

SHAWNA HEDDINGHAUS, O.D.
FIRESIDE EYE CARE, P.C.