VSP Optometrist Wesley Umeda, O.D., examines a patient in-need onboard the VSP Mobile Eyes Clinic
I am constantly reading the blogs and articles from the VSP Mobile Clinic team and it always seemed like the people who participate have such rewarding experiences–I used to think it was just a marketing strategy. That is until I joined up with Lori F., Vicki A., and the Mobile Clinics team at the Loaves and Fishes event this month in Sacramento. Talk about an eye opener!!! I arrived at the location at 8:00 am to help set up and was immediately approached by numerous people from Friendship Park asking how they could get an appointment to see the eye doctor. I directed them to the event coordinator for Loaves and Fishes, but many of them were not seen at the clinic that day because patients had already been pre-registered.
Once the patients started arriving, I quickly realized exactly what the other Mobile Clinic volunteers had been blogging about. The people we saw are often overlooked in society–most of them carrying everything they own in a backpack. And yet, the energy and excitement they exuded was intoxicating. I heard more laughter and saw more smiles on their faces than at the mall on a weekend.
As the morning rolled on, the line continued to grow and it started heating up outside. There was really nothing we could do to speed up the process as so many patients were getting their eyes dilated and had to wait inside for the doctor to reexamine them. Jessie, a VSP Intern and fellow MRT, did such an amazing job with the people waiting outside and making sure all of the paperwork was in order so that we could focus on getting the patients in and out as quickly as possible. I will never forget one of the patients named Brandy. She was so tired of waiting to see the doctor and was getting incredibly grumpy, so we invited her to wait in the clinic in the air conditioning. She tried so hard to stay mad, but once she and I started picking out her frames there was nothing that could wipe the smile off of her face.
Dr. Umeda, Dr. Swan and Dr. Kim, VSP doctors who volunteered their time, all did such an amazing job with the patients. People kept telling me how nice they were to them. It is so easy to take the kind of care I receive from my VSP doctor for granted, and it was just one of many reminders I had that day of just how blessed I am. I feel kind of selfish for having gotten so much out of this experience when we were there to be giving to others, but I truly felt like I was doing something that made a difference. So many of the people I met during the event were so gracious and grateful to us for helping them to see. Without my glasses I can see about 6 inches from my face, so I cannot even begin to imagine how hard it is to have to go through life not being able to see what’s going on around me.
I would like to say a big thank you to Loaves and Fishes for everything they do for the people in our community. I have always known VSP was a special place to work and am so grateful that our company not only gives back to the community, but allows and encourages its employees to do the same. This event hit close to home for me and opened my eyes to so many of the things in life that I take for granted. I cannot wait for the next opportunity I get to volunteer with the Mobile Clinics!
