Sue and I participated in a wonderful vision health and eye glasses clinic in San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala, last month, on the shores of the ever-beautiful Lake Atitlan. It was the first clinic for I Care International since that visionary year of 2020, npi, just before Covid, and, sadly, just more than a year since the death of Dr Phil Ortiz, a very generous and humble man.

During this 5 day clinic, we were able to provide a full vision exam, to each patient, thanks to the 7 optometrists that came along with 38 other volunteers, who filled the many other important roles. 1550 local residents passed through our procedures, from patient registration to the final fitting of a pair of prescription glasses from our inventory of more than 8000 used lenses. It seems that it was, as far as we now know, a covid-free event! Que bueno….

For this clinic, I Care partnered with and used space provided by the Monsignor Gregorio Schaffer Hospital, a small private hospital and the only one within 2 hours of San Lucas. The hospital staff helped us in not only completing preregistration forms and scheduling of the patients but in identifing translators who spoke both Kaqchikel, the local Mayan dialect, and English, to interpret for our optometrists and nurses. For more than 25 years, Dr. Raphael Tun has been the sole full time physician there, providing and coordinating a wide range of care on a full time basis. For more information go to: https://hospitalgregorioschafferslt.org/

At the end of our clinic, during which Dr Tun offered important support to our clinic as well as actual health care to more than a few volunteers, asked if I Care or any of our doctors had a used ”tonometer” that could be donated to his hospital. A tonometer is an optical instrument used for measuring pressure in the eyeball, a basic test for glaucoma, one of the diseases that directly impacts vision health. Unfortunately, we did not have one for him, and that is why I have decided to ask our friends and family and clini volunteers to support a Go Fund Me page….

The goal is to raise US$4000.00 to purchase a good refurbished tonometer for this new and important I Care partner.

Thanks for considering a gift, even an anonymous one, no matter if large or small!

Bill