No doubt the most challenging medical vision mission ever for EyeCare WeCare Foundation and its 23 volunteers. This mission was in the planning stages for almost 2 years. It began in Florida when the Weyrichs were invited to the Philippine Nurses Association of North East Florida (PNANEF) for their inauguration of it's officers in October 2008. The PNANEF is a partner with EcWc Foundation and it helps sponsor the Annual Golf Tournament in Jacksonville Fl. The Vice President Vel Callao and her husband Ed Callao, introduced Susan Bautista Damilao to EcWc Founder and President, Dr. Jim Weyrich and his wife Ellen. Susan, an optician who works for a Jacksonville Ophthalmologist, Dr. Robert Schnipper, (another supporter of EcWc Foundation) stated that she has always wanted to return to the area that she had grown up and bring them a vision mission. That happened to be Macabebe City in the Province of Pampanga North of Manila on the Luzon. EyeCare WeCare Foundation accepted to do in May of 2010 and the challenges began.

Hosts, Ed and Susan Baaoutista Damilao, President, Dr. Jim Weryich, V.P. Jobert Tagobader and Ellen Weyrich

The getting to the Luzon was one of the biggest obstacles that the Foundation has ever encountered. The quote that we received from the Super Ferry was nearly $10,000 US dollars round trip to transport the mobile clinic from Bacolod to Manila (Over 500 Nautical Miles)  and the 25 volunteers. We considered crossing three large islands and taking three small ferry boats each way that probably take over 2 days and would be very hard on the mobile clinic to cross the mountainous Islands. It would be considerably less to do so somewhere in the $3,500 range figuring there were no repairs. We appealed to the Philippine Coast Guard  to transport it for us. We are a 100% voluntary organization and operate on a small budget.  At the very last minute (we are talking about 48 hours before we left, Negros Navigation informed us that It would help sponsor this medical mission and didn't offer to do it free, but it reduced the fare immensely and even surprised us by presenting a banner to the Foundation while we were waiting to board the Giant ferry boat.

Negros Navigation sponsors EyeCare WeCare mission.            Meals and Lodging for the 5 days sponsors listed above

We left Bacolod at 7:00 PM on May 23, 2010 and arrived in Manila at 6:00PM the mobile clinic was unloaded, we survided rush hour traffic in Manila and finally arrived in Macabebe around 9 PM. The mobile clinic was parked at the clinic site and the volunteers were taken to their great accommodations with Susan Bautista Damilao's family. The next 5 days would become historic. The fact that we were in on venue for 5 full days, we did not need to set up the mobile clinic each morning and tear down and move that night. It gave us as much as 3 hours more of clinic. The lunches  for the EcWc volunteers and the local volunteers was served at a Church next door. The meals provided the volunteers with energy to see around 300 patients per day. The meals and lodging for 5 days for 25 volunteers was also a very large undertaking.  Susan Bautista Damilao was up for the task and exceeded all expectations. The Foundation and it's volunteers are extremely grateful for the unbelievable hospitality and expense that the Damilao's provided EyeCare WeCare Foundation during the stay and the day following the medical mission.

1st given a registration card, a number , then were registered.  Next everyone had their blood pressure recorded

Next everyone had their inter ocular pressures taken with tonometer, next station autorefractor  dials in the Rx

Dr Evaluates all medical conditions, past and present, Cataracts, Pterygium Strabismus , nystagmus

Dr. Evaluates the inside and outside of each patients eyes to determine eye health or eye disease

Cataracts and Pterygiums are by far the most common referral for surgery to Resources for the Blind

SUCCESS STORIES FROM MAY 2010 MEDICAL EYE MISSION

This is what it is all about, this is the reason the foundation continues to be motivated to continue its works. With ever single medical vision mission there are several persons that are worth the complete trip in themselves and this medical mission was no different. The young man below came in one late afternoon and he was found to have around a -9.00 correction both eyes. Dr. Weyrich asked him where his previous glasses were, he replied that he had never seen an eye doctor because his parents were poor. He tried attending school, but never completed the first grade because he could not see anything that the teacher put on the board even if he sat in the front. The pictures of him before and after speak for themselves.

He was in tears when he could see, He just couldn't believe the difference a pair of eyeglasses would make

student with Alternating Exotropia helped with plus lenses to relax her eye and reduce her headaches

This girl came in has never worn glasses and she was a -7 Diopters, She came alive also

The smile tells it all, this special child was thrilled with her new eyeglasses that she received

Another student with high myopia and never wearing glasses before

Students in the Philippines, like American students are becoming more and more nearsighted due to the fact that they use computers and cell phones by the hour and become nearsighted. This girl had glasses before, but has not had any for several years and she too cannot see the board in school

There were many many more stories and pictures such as this. These are only 6 of the 1,411 patient that received eyeglasses so there are 1,405 other stories. There was lots of pictures that tell a story. We conclude this mission with before and after shots of the volunteers. The picture on the left was when we left Bago City to catch the Ferry Boat to Manila on May 23, 2010 and the one on the right is picture of the same volunteers returning to Bago City  on June 1, 2010. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words.

Send mail to info@eyecarewecare.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 06/09/10