February 20, 2015 at 2:32 p.m.
Sue Laskowski completes 27th optical mission trip
Sue Laskowski completes 27th optical mission trip
Laskowski recently returned to Minocqua from El Penon, Dominican Republic, where her group of four optometrists and six support staff provided eye exams to 1,300 people between the ages of 5 months and 99 years, and fitted many of them with used eyeglasses.
"The days were very busy with not only routine care but other eye infections, injuries and pathology," Laskowski, who works in the clinic's optical shop in Minocqua, said.
The Jan. 29 to Feb. 8 trip was the first time eye care was provided to this rural community, Laskowski said. The El Penon area, which has a population of approximately 10,000, is located in the region of Barahona about 96 miles from Haiti.
The group set up the eye clinic in the El Penon federal hospital-clinic. Village officials brought in a generator so electricity was available during clinic hours. The village secretary handed residents tickets so they knew which day to come for care.
Team members each packed at least 400 pair of used eyeglasses into their suitcases to bring along. Minocqua area businesses donated toys and baseball caps that were given to the patients working in fields. A clinic patient even donated two stuffed animals for Laskowski to give away.
For most, this will be the only eye care and glasses they will ever receive.
"Angel, an 11-year-old boy, received one of my baseball caps and his eyeglasses, Laskowski said. "The smile on his face really showed his appreciation. His grandmother came in the next day to thank us. She said her grandson came to her house crying and she didn't know what happened to him. When he stopped crying he said to his grandmother, 'I can finally see.' The impact we made with this boy is just one of many very thankful people of the community."
In another instance, a woman in her 50s came in and initially struggled to communicate. Group members realized she could not see at any distance.
"After asking more questions I found out she had an eye exam a long time ago and they could not make glasses for her," Laskowski said. "We found a pair of glasses for distance and near. She was very happy and overwhelmed that she could see clear for the first time in her life."
VOSH members also helped patients who came to the clinic for emergency care. One day a woman came in screaming after hot grease burned most of her upper chest. Clinic staff had nothing to give to help with pain or infection and could only clean the areas and send her home.
"Four days later she returned with a towel around her and they removed the dead skin," Laskowski said. "I gave her my ibuprofen, food and proper instructions."
Based on its experiences, the Wisconsin VOSH group is now working to obtain basic medical supplies for the El Penon clinic.
"I want to extend a very special thank you for all the donations of eyeglasses, toys, and caps," Laskowski said. "This was my twenty-seventh mission and I felt blessed to be able to help out so many people with the gift of sight."
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