Kim R. is on the VSP Mobile Clinic team.

As Niki and I excitedly prepared to leave for our VOSH trip to Dominica we were also nervous.  1700-1900 patients in 5 days – that is a lot of patients and a lot of dispensing glasses.  We were nervous about the unknowns.  Our jobs are to run the dispensary, so we have the opportunity to personally serve all of the patients who need glasses – we are using donated frames from our Eyes of Hope program, Lions Club International and other organizations.  We are able to put glasses on patients immediately and see their reaction to being able to see better!

We went into this with an open mind and know that we will have stories and memories to last a lifetime.  We are excited to be a part of an amazing group of people from the state of Michigan, excited to help the people of Dominica, excited to see another part of the world, and excited to represent VSP!

It took us 3 days to get to Dominica.  Our journey began early on Thursday, January 13th and we met up with the 30 or so MI VOSH team members Friday morning for our flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico.  On Saturday, we caught our very small “puddle jumper” plane to Dominica.  Then the hard work began – setting up the clinics, organizing the equipment, and organizing the dispensary.

It is an honor to be a part of this mission.  Stay tuned for updates!  We are trying to update each evening, however, we are relying on technology out in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, so we are being flexible!

Kim R. is on the VSP Mobile Clinic team.

Dr. Robert Mulgrew, a local VSP doctor, coordinated an event with the VSP Mobile Eye clinic to provide comprehensive eye exams and glasses to the children of the Sunnyside School District. This young man was one of our patients, and as you can see, he was in need of new glasses. The glasses he is wearing were over 2 years old and had been damaged for quite some time. After his exam, it was determined the current glasses were not even close to what his new prescription was. He was so excited to be able to pick out his own glasses, and did not need much time in selecting his new frame….he had been “eyeing” the Power Rangers frame by Marchon.

Before

After

Kim R. is on the VSP Mobile Clinic team.

Part of VSP’s Mobile Eyes Program includes portable lanes of ophthalmic equipment that we loan at no cost to VSP doctors and Schools of Optometry to support their community charitable events. For the second year in row, we worked with Dr. Gilbert Matsuoka, a VSP doctor who practices in the bay area town of Pleasant Hill, CA, by supporting his community outreach program in Oakland, CA in conjunction with over 100 volunteers from his church and in partnership with World Impact. World Impact offers many programs that strengthen, promote and help the community.

Dr. Matsuoka plans, organizes and executes an amazing four day event in Oakland. He pulls many volunteers from his church, and is supported with help from students at UC Berkeley College of Optometry, and many of the local optometrist. It is quite impressive to see what he accomplishes with all of these volunteers! The Mobile Eyes program set up six lanes of portable equipment to support his efforts and also provides all of the glasses for the patients. This year we broke all of the records with our program – in one day we saw 120 patients, we had our highest RX ever, a gentleman who is legally blind, and we have served our oldest patient – a 97 year old woman who seems to have more energy than I do!!

 There were so many touching moments last week, we were thanked by each and everyone of the patients and they were are all so grateful for the services we provided. So many of them have commented on how kind and sweet each and every volunteer has been! They are amazed at the beautiful frames that they are able to select from (thank you Marchon for the donated frames!!).

We had a four year old little boy who was diagnosed Thursday with Glaucoma – pressures were extremely high and after a lengthy consultation with Dr. Matsuoka, the child’s parents understand the importance of getting him in to see a doctor through the local free clinic for follow up care.

For the Monterey County Office of Education’s first VSP Mobile Eyes event we were able to provide services to over 55 children and youth in need — in the future we’ll shoot for over 100!

VSP Mobile Clinics Operations Manager, Niki M., with a patient in his shades after his eyes were dilated.

During the three day outreach event, the clinic visited three school districts in Monterey County, including Greenfield Union, Sta. Rita Union and Salinas City Union. The young patients entered the clinic with excitement and gratitude, especially after they had the opportunity to select their frames from popular brands like Disney & Coach!

One of the students picking out his frames with VSP Mobile Clinic Operations Managers, Kim R., and Monterey County Migrant Program partner, Isabel.

It was a pleasure partnering with the team at VSP.  Kim R., Niki M., and Vicki A. are a great team to work with, and I want to give a big  thank you to our local VSP optometrists – Dr. Sylvia Lee, Dr. Brett Fredericks, Dr. William Kadell, and Dr. Catherine Winters – who enthusiasticly volunteered their time to provide eye exams to the kids.

VSP Volunteer, Vicki A., Dr. William Kadell, Kim R. and Niki M.

Now that the students who needed glasses will receive them, I feel they will definitely show an improvement in their language arts and math achievement this year as they can see with much more clarity and precision!

We look forward to VSP Mobile Eyes visiting our area again.  What a great service VSP offers to the community!!! 

Kim R. is part of VSP's Mobile Clinics team.

Although I don’t have children, I am reminded in my job how incredible kids can be. Take for example, Travis, a sweet young man I met in Tampa, FL last week while I was working on the mobile clinic at an elementary school.

Travis came on board for his eye exam and learned that he needed glasses. While he was selecting his frames with one of his friends (who happened to be a little girl), I asked them “are you girls having fun selecting your frames?”

“I am a boy,” Travis said. I apologized to him and he replied “That’s OK, I get it all the time.”

Travis poses after selecting his new frames.

As you can see by his picture, he has very long hair, which led me to believe he was a girl. Later, I learned that this young man is growing his hair to donate to Locks of Love for his sibling. What an incredible child Travis is, unselfishly giving to his sibling and does not let it bother him that many people assume he is a girl.

Kim R. is on the VSP Mobile Clinic team.

Last week, the mobile clinic was in Charleston, SC at Crisis Ministries helping their clients.  We had patients scheduled, and we have been able to see all of them and take the walk up patients.  The word spread quickly through out the community and each day we had people lined up waiting for us when we arrived!  The people here are so gracious and thankful for the services being provided.  Some have walked miles and waited all day to be seen!  Each and everyone of the patients we have seen have required glasses!
These clients have shared their stories with us.  One of them was living in San Diego, owned his own business and home!  However, due to the economy he lost everything.  He took the last bit of his savings and started heading East.  He spent some time in TX and recently ended up here in Charleston.  This kind gentleman has such a great attitude and said “as long as I wake up, I know it is going to be a great day”.  He has been homeless over 3 years.

Another gentleman had been a Navy SEAL for 7 years and was discharged honorably.  He said that he made some poor choices and has ended up homeless.  He also has a positive attitude and is using the services of Crisis Ministries to get back on his feet and be able to support himself.

It is heartwarming to hear their stories and that they want to get back on their feet.  The hugs and the many thanks we have received is the best part of this job!

Thank you to all VSP providers who volunteered their time aboard the clinic last week: Mason Smith OD, Paul Bohac OD, Melvin Watsky OD, Donald Koets OD, Keith Farley OD, David Bodkin OD, Jennifer Smith OD, Robert Wild OD, and Philip Reiheld OD.

Kim R. is a Moblie Clinics Operations Manager

I spent my time yesterday at the Sonora Stand Down in Sonora, CA with the VSP Mobile Clinic.  We were there to provide quality comprehensive eye exams and glasses to the homeless veterans of the Sierra Foothills.  It was a bittersweet day for me.  It saddens me that many Veterans, who gave their service to preserve our freedom, are in dire need of medical services. I am proud that I work for a company that gives back to the community and partners with organizations such as the Sonora Stand Down which helps these Veterans.

As a former Sargent in the US Air Force, I felt a bond with these veterans, many of who are homeless and are not able to live the “American Dream.”  These men and women amazed me … they are not bitter, they are not angry – they are thankful for those few individuals and companies that will help them.

One woman shared her story with me that seems to be a common story amongst all of the people we saw today.  She is homeless, served our country in the US Army for 10 years, and was discharged for a medical reason.  Since she was not 100% disabled, the services she has through the VA are very limited.  She receives a third of what a person on Social Security receives, but due to her service related injury, she can not work.  However, her attitude was amazing!  She has faith in the brother and  sisterhood of Vets that she will get back up on her feet and live her life to the fullest she can … because of the support she gets from programs such as the Sonora Stand Down.

She could not believe that VSP would invest time and money to bring the Mobile Clinic to this very small mountain community to help.  Her amazement at the selection of “really nice frames and they don’t cost me a dime” was evident in her smile and the sparkle in her eyes.  When I shared with her that the two doctors on board, Drs. Jolley and Stuart, were volunteering their time, she replied “I gave to my country, and they are giving to me…thank you for this”.

No, my friend, thank YOU for giving me my freedom!

Editor’s Note: Please take a moment in your day today in remembrance of those lost on September 11, 2001.

Kim R. is a VSP Mobile Clinic Operations Manager.

We are set up in a pretty depressed area here in Baton Rouge.  A car pulled up with a woman and 3 children, ages 12, 13, and 14.  She asked if she could get her eyes checked today, and we explained we are just doing infants.

She said she really needed help as the glasses she has were provided by Wal-Mart and were not working.  She qualified for the Gift Certificate and I provided it to her.

She explained to me that the 3 children were foster children, and one, Faith, was found in a sewer drain at 8 hours old, the 2 others who are sisters were found tied up under a trailer.

At that point she got out of her car with her 3 children and the 2 older ones sang us a song of thanks. See the video clip below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

First 15 minutes of the day, and I have cried so hard and am so blessed to be the vehicle for VSP to do these great things!