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Partnerships Are Powerful
Vision Is Priceless partnered with Vistakon this past year to provide eye care to those in need. A Clinic was staffed by Vistakon employees including ophthalmologists, optometrists, opticians, translators, administrative support, and technicians. VIP’s staff worked in collaboration to schedule, arrange transportation, and assist at the clinic to serve 24 individuals on the waiting list. Of those served 23 required prescription glasses, and they were able to choose their lenses and order glasses on site with the generous help of optician Patty Davalt, owner of Davalt Optical. The generosity was contagious. In addition to providing 24 free eye exams and 23 pairs of glasses, the doctors at Vistakon identified five individuals with severe eye injuries and diseases, that left untreated would have resulted in blindness. Two individuals were diagnosed with glaucoma, and two individuals had serious retinal tears, and one man had advanced cataracts. Within days of these diagnoses, VIP’s Cared Vision Program’s volunteers stepped up to help provide free specialty services for the glaucoma and retinal patients, including emergency laser treatment for the angular glaucoma. VIP’s staff also worked with Division of Blind Services to help the gentleman with cataracts receive surgery, after his specialty exam with our Cared Vision Provider. Grateful for their gifts of sight, many individuals offered their heartfelt thanks to all of the doctors and volunteers they passed at the clinic. Carmen Suarez, who received much needed glasses and whose husband received sight-saving retinal care, showed her appreciation by donating her time to come back and volunteer as a translator for appointments. What started with a generous gift from Vistakon, has grown into a life-changing program that helps so many, and inspires others to give back. Future Vistakon hosted clinics are already in the planning stages.
Success Stories
On his 8th Birthday, Carmen’s grandson had an eye exam with one of our Cared Vision physicians and received a pair of much needed glasses. Carmen, who is raising her grandson, learned through a vision screening that his eyesight was severely limited in one eye, which could hinder his education. Without insurance, and unable to receive government assistance she came to VIP. She was grateful for the kindness and responsiveness of the VIP staff, and Dr. Levenson and his staff, who gave her grandson the best birthday present-the gift of sight! When Judith’s diabetic mother had a stroke and was suffering from vision loss, she knew care was urgently needed. Her mother had no insurance, nor did she qualify for any government program, so she called VIP. An exam with one of our physicians and a MRI were both provided at no cost to help ensure she would receive the treatment she needed.
Seeing Clearly
Israel Copleand, a Jacksonville native, has been a truck driver for nearly 40 years. Together he and I make up “Copeland Trucking”. Israel is his own worst enemy when it comes to doing for himself. He will work on his truck, help a friend or colleague, but not himself. He has had bad vision (if the truth was told about 11-12 years) and he kept putting off visits because they cost too much. With some encouragement, he went to the Value Vision who promptly told him he needed a specialist and referred him to Dr. Lambrou, who worked wonders with Israels’ retina. But then cataracts were already forming and it looked like he was going to need another surgery, so Dr. Lambrou sent us to Dr. Levenson and he told Israel that surgery was needed. [Israel] kept putting it off til finally in March/April of this year we had the first surgery because he could literally not see to back his trailer up. After the first surgery he was reminded that he would need the other eye, but he put it off because there was no money. We were already in debt to the surgery center so we had to wait again. Genette from Dr. Levinson’s office called us (we were on the road and Israel took the call), and all I heard was “NO CHARGE?” Absolutely, we were told that he would be the first [surgery scheduled in Aug for the Cared Vision Program] with Dr. Levenson, and I thanked Jehovah God for all the mighty works He was and still is performing in our lives. God is so good to us, when the prayers went up the blessings rained down!!! The day he came home from the surgery he was singing “I can see clearly now the film is gone!” To hear that sound was music to my ears. We are grateful, first to God and second to that folks that made this possible because without their support this surgery might have been put off indefinitely, and he could have gone blind. How do you say thank you to the generosity of our fellow human beings? By donating time and funds. Because they give the gift of sight and nothing beats looking into my husband’s eyes and knowing that he can see me clearly!!! We thank each person that was involved in making this happen. Seeing is Believing !!!