RESULTS OF PREVIOUS MEDICAL VISION MEDICAL MISSIONS

June 1 to 6, 2011, 6 day mission in Lemery/Taal, Province of Batangas sets all records at 1,703 disadvantaged Filipinos receiving free vision care, 1,688 receiving graded eye glasses and over 70 people will receive eye surgeries.

Every single mission there are new venues, different experiences, great teamwork, many people blessed and we keep in mind that God is present at all time working in us and through us to bring His great gift of sight to the poorest of the poor here in the Philippines. First of all, we know by experience in the mission field, that no matter how well the plans that are made in advance that plans do not always go according to plan. This mission is no different. The first major change came (after months of negotiations with the ferryboat/shipping company, they cancelled our sail dates, that happened in January too, but we were able to move ahead in our schedule and still hit the venue times for the mission, but this time, we could not get there in time for the mission. We had to abort our plans of travel to island hop from Negros to Panay Island, (2 hour ferry boat ride) drive 7 hour to the other end of Panay island, catch a ferry to Mindoro Island (6 hour ferry boat ride), drive 6 hours to the north of Mindoro and catch a ferry to Batangas (a 2-hour ferry boat ride) to make the ferry boat schedules.  It took two days to get to the mission (Batangas) and then two days to return from the trip. There was much higher fuel costs of the bus and the 25 volunteers had to try to rest on the ferry boat rides and inside the mobile clinic.  It was quite an adventure that never before our volunteers had ever experienced.  Then, because of lack of cooperation from the local medical community in the Lemery/Taal area, we had to abort the plan to do the cataract surgeries simultaneous to our medical mission.  It is very unfortunate, but now we will transport all of the patients needing surgery to Manila where their free surgeries will be performed. 

On the positive side, however, we had some things that were plusses and not minuses.  First of all we had great support from our host/sponsors, Mr. Bayani Diokno and Mr. Cris Cueto.  The stay at the private beach resort was donated to the foundation's volunteers by Mr. Cueto's second cousin.  It was the very first time that we actually had a place to stay on the ocean and it was much more elegant than what our volunteers are used to.  The food was wonderful and the day after the medical mission everyone was bussed to Tagaytay, where we got to see the active Taal volcano in the middle of Lake Taal.  It is the shortest of all active volcanoes in the world and from Tagaytay, you actually look down, not up at the crater.

The biggest change and the most beneficial thing that was different about this mission were the volunteer optometric physicians and one Optometry student. Dr's Mark Bernardo and Yin-Yin Aung were able to exclusively look for pathology and our Optometry Student, Ed Barilla, helped also in checking for ocular pathology.  We were able to identify more pathology than any other missions because we were able to dilate any suspicious eye condition and perform an direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy on all and also a bio-microscopy on all patients.  All the doctors conferred with each other as to needed further treatment and all agreed as to what would be the best avenue of treatment and refer. We didn't have to do that with the cataract and pterygium referrals, because they were very obvious. We were again fortunate to have Derrick Buchannan, the optician from Portland, Oregon, have him be in charge of selecting the closest prescription for the patients from our large supply of recycled eyeglasses.

The blue bus of hope travels by land and by see to provide free vision services to poor people Lemery & Taal

people patiently wait their turn for registration, blood pressures, inter ocular pressures, auto refractory, ophthalmoscopy, biomicroscopy,  refraction and then their eyeglasses

Long lines for registration (left) and long lines for blood pressure (right)

Lines for interocular pressure test (for glaucoma) on left, Dr Bernardo doing indirect ophthalmoscopy  on right

                 HERE ARE PICTURES OF THE ONES THAT WE CAME TO HELP SEE

                                       1,688 disadvantaged people received graded eyeglasses

Here is a 18 year old girl with a -10 diopter correction and has never had glasses, she could not believe what leaves on trees looked like nor what peoples faces looked like. On the far right, a lady gets new glasses to see better and some Ocuvites to help control her Macular Degeration.

Here are three more people that are enjoying their improved vision with their recycled eyeglasses

This lady is very pleased as well as the gentleman who is waiting and finally receives his new glassesW

         THESE TWO GIRLS REALLY BENEFITED BY THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH EYECARE WECARE FOUNDATION

Analyn is now our poster girl, she entered the mobile clinic in Lemery, Batangas in the Philippines during our June 2011 mission. She had this cornea injury at age 2 and has had to deal with this scar from age to on.  Dr. Weyrich promised her that the foundation would do everything that it could to have her dream of an artificial eye. It had no impact on her vision, but has now changed her life.  Thanks to Fe Smith from Lemery that transported Analyn many many times to get the eye removed ( thank you Resources for the Blind who arranged the surgery)  and thank you Dr. Anthony "Tony" Joson (pictured above with Analyn) who measured, manufactured and fit the artificial for her without charge. God is so good!!!

Little Angela has what appears to be a benign right lid tumor which we will try to have removed for her, she was so happy to see better with her new glasses, She stole everyone's heart that mission day. She wanted to have her picture taken with her new favorite doctors, Dr. Yin-Yin Aung  and Dr. Jim

               THESE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS  RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MISSION HAPPENING

the people of the Municipalities of Lemery and Taal, in the Province of Batangas were blessed because the sponsors hometown sponsors, Cris Cueto, Sponsored Lemery Mission (left) Founders of EyeCare WeCare Foundation, Dr. Jim and Ellen Weyrich, Sponsor Bayani Diokno , The Taal Mission and Art Mendoza local businessman took care of the list of indigents and details of the Taal mission. Both Mr. Cueto and Mr. Diokno are both retired US military, now living in Jacksonville, Florida. On the right is Fe Smith, sister of Cris Cueto, who was the person who took care of all the Lemery details and who also spoiled Dr. Weyrich by fixing food for his Vegan Diet. Fe and her Husband also Hosted the arrival dinner for the volunteers the day before the mission began. Fe is also the person that transported Analyn for Lemery to Manila to get all the test and clearances for her to have he surgery to remove her left eye ( see story right above) Fe is a saint -- she drove to Manila at least 12 trips to get the final results--- she really has a heart for what Analyn has been going through,  that is because she herself has an artificial eye.

                   THE VOLUNTEERS WHO TRAVELED IN THE MOBILE CLINIC OVER 60 HOURS TO SERVE ON THIS MISSION

Picture of the 26 volunteers leaving Bacolod on the three different ferry boat rides (11 hours by Sea) and traveling aboard the mobile clinic on 4 islands (19 hours by land). The picture on left was the volunteers after traveling 20 hours inside the bus  

January 2011 EYE Mission 5 day Serves 1,407 Indigents

This mission was the largest and most comprehensive mission that we have ever undertaken. This was the very first medical vision mission for us to examine and screen patients that needed cataract surgery, refer them to a nearby hospital and on the very next day they had cataract surgery performed. This mission we had  the assistance of many organizations and one individual. First of all EyeCare WeCare Foundation wrote a grant to Bausch and Lomb to get inter ocular lenses and surgery supplies for 100 cataract surgeries along with medications needed to treat non cataract or pterygium surgery patients. We were awarded the grant. The Aberdeen Lions Club wrote a matching grant to Lions Clubs International for an IAG (International Assistance Grant) and was awarded that grant. Our partner, Resources for the Blind assisted in surgery for this mission and will be doing the necessary surgeries for the folks that could not have surgery during the time of the Medical mission. The Municipality of Umingan and Mayor Eldred P. Tumbocon helped with getting the venues, tables, chairs, meals and lodging for all volunteers. We had to set up and tear down everyday because the different venues were miles apart. Danny Aguilar, contacted us last year requesting us to come to Umingan.  He is employed by Bausch and Lomb in California, though he was not present, his presence was felt. He came in December laid all the groundwork for a smooth efficient medical mission. This is a remote region nestled in a large agriculture valley (mainly rice and sugar cane) right next to the mountains. The people here are very hard working and extremely poor. A total of 1,407 were examined 1,388 received graded eyeglasses. over 100 people were found to need cataract surgery, 23 had surgery during the mission. There were 10 additional Cataract surgeries preformed by Resources for the blind over a period of 2 weeks following the mission dates. Some patients opted out,  These figures will be updated as they are performed. Also, 17pterygium surgeries were preformed. All in all it was a fabulous mission.

This mission there were crowds gathered all the time that we were in clinic. We averaged 281 patients everyday

Left to right, Adolf Paragas, Past President of Host Lions Club, San Fernando City, La Union. Dr James Weyrich, Board member of sponsoring Aberdeen, WA Lions Club & President Founder of EyeCare WeCare Foundation. He was the dr. that saw all the patient at the 5 venues. Dr. Ralph Asuncion, Host District Governor of MD 301-C and also ophthalmologist. He was the Dr. that performed all cataract and pterygium surgeries on patients Dr Weyrich found during this mission

Dr Weyrich finalizing eyeglasses prescription                           Dr. Asuncion doing Cataract Surgery

Just getting to the venues was also a challenge, here we pass through a rice fields --NO ROAD

                                           The ambulance show us the route

Volunteers get out of the bus to lighten the load so we do not get stuck in the rice field

the dirt bank at front of bus was dug out and the post for the gate removed to get the bus in

barangay official gets on top the bus to lift llight wires - he had to step backwards as the bus moved

were in the outback , but our largest number of examinations and eyeglasses 326 that day

Here are a few that made a huge difference in their lives

This boy was a -8.00 of nearsightedness and had never worn glasses now he can see in school

Here was a lady that couldn't see very well at distance, She had -6.00 Diopters of nearsightedness

This little girl has accommodative Esotropia (left eye in) she needs a farsightedness prescription

This is a street person with no name and does not know his date of birth. He was abandon at birth. His right eye condition and the tumor on his nose have been there as long as he can remember. A person from this community took him in and is now teaching him how to speak and read -- Praise God we were able to help him see much clearer

This young lady has never worn glasses and never could see the board in school. She was so happy

These two indigents will now have good vision for years to come following their cataract surgery

Here are two more indigents that had cataract surgery by Dr. Asuncion and now will be able to see

This was a Lions Clubs International Foundation Medical Mission sponsored by the Aberdeen Lions Club (Washington State) and Hosted by the San Fernando, La Union Lions Club in the Philippines

Other Sponsors were Danny Aguilar, Bausch and Lomb, EyeCare WeCare Foundation, Resources for the Blind and the Municipality of Umingan

May 2010 EYE Mission Macabebe, Pampanga Serves 5 day Record of 1,411 Indigents

No doubt one of the most challenging medical vision mission to date 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.

January 2010 Vision Mission Sets a Record: 1,763 INDIGENTS SERVED IN NINE DAYS

From January 4, 2010 to January 11, 2010, EyeCare WeCare conducted a medical-vision mission for nine days in 10 different locations in the Province of Negros Occidental.  A total of 1,769 indigents were served, they received free eye exams, free eyeglasses and free eye medications.

The foundation set a record during this mission.  EyeCare WeCare has, so far, reached its highest number of indigents served on Negros Occidental in one mission trip (1,763), making its total number of indigents served since July 2005 into 11,088.

EyeCare WeCare's clinic venue and the list of indigent beneficiaries were arranged and determined by different religious sectors allover the province. Below are some of the people who's lives were changed for ever.

The foundation would like to thank and recognize the following sponsors who were very instrumental in this medical vision mission. Bausch and Lomb for the medications, The Philippine Airlines Foundation and Hawaiian Airlines for allowing it to fly with us for no cost. The  Northwest Lions Eye Glasses Recycling Center and the Northwest Kiwanis SOS program for supplying the recycled eyeglasses and of course to all of the volunteers who made this medical mission and all of the previous eye missions possible.

The foundation is scheduled to conduct its next medical-vision mission in Pampanga and its surrounding areas in early June 2010.  Pampanga is one of the highly affected provinces during the flooding in October 2009 that devastated a large number of population in the Luzon area.

Read about Helen in Philippine newspaper VIsayan Daily Star "StarLife Sunday" January 31,2010

Helen Tambanillo ,Purok Riverside, Brgy. Tabunan, Bago City, came in claiming to never remember being able to see, received new eyeglasses which were a minus 18 diopter correction. She cried for over 2 hours, had every volunteer and indigent at the venue in tears. Even our bus driver ended up crying like a baby. She stayed for 2 hours singing praises to GOD. Center picture is with EyeCare WeCare Foundation's vice president, Jobert Tagobader. This was one of 1,769 recipients on this mission, but for her it was truely a life changing experience.

                  The young girl was a student that could not see the board in school, she had never had glasses and had no idea what she was mission until she received her glasses. This will change her life. The lady on the right has cataracts but doesn't want surgery. We were able to power through her cataracts with minus lenses to greatly improve her vision and quality of life

EyeCare WeCare Foundation Completes it's Two 2009  Medical Vision Missions to The Province of Iloilo and Negros Occidental in the Philippines

The January medical vision mission in 2009 was  in the Province of Iloilo on Panay Island. It was quite an experience loading the mobile clinic on and off the ferry boats. The ferries are very small and you either drive in and back out, or you back in and you drive out. The ramps were very challenging because there is only one ramp and it doesn't adjust to the level of the tides. On the way off the bus in Iloilo, the tide was quite low. The angle up was steep and the bus hit bottom on both the front and the back of the bus when it exited. The ferry terminal was in the Municipality Dumangas. 

Iloilo was probably the worst hit area, in all of the Philippines, from Typhoon Frank which hit in late June of 2008. Many will recall that was the terrible storm that turned over a ferry boat , not far from Iloilo, and over 800 lives were lost.  Also, over 400 fisherman were never found. Most of the Municipalities that we visited were along rivers that flooded up to 50 feet over their banks. They literally had to dig out the towns in many areas. The floods destroyed hospitals and medical clinics. Many people were also killed and injured in the floods. A death total from all of the Visayas (middle portion of the Philippines) from the floods was 213, it was noted that of that figure, 135 were from the Province of Iloilo.  Some lost lives later as the result of diseases from contaminated  water. The infrastructure of many areas was damaged very badly. Many bridges are gone that link the communities. Some have temporary bridges and there is much bridge construction everywhere. Many of the roads were destroyed or badly damaged. That was a great challenge to bring the mobile vision clinic over the bad roads. We prayed before we went over all of the temporary ones              

                   Amerang river bridge Cabutuan                 Tubucan river bridge also Cabutuan

Thousands are still living in temporary housing because they lost their homes and all of their belongings. The poor people were so grateful for what the foundation brought to them. 2,014 people received eye examinations and free eyeglasses. 

The following people listed below had a huge life changing experience by their vision being restored.

This lady was led into the mobile clinic and she stated  to Dr. Weyrich     " I have been blind for over 30 years, I cannot see you, but I have prayed that you can help me."  The doctor was looking at the results of the auto refractor and noticed that she needed a -11 diopter powered lenses for each eye. This means that she couldn't see anything beyond one inch of her eyes. Later, after receiving her glasses to her prescription, she barged her way onto the mobile clinic bus, crowding ahead of the waiting indigents.  Dr. Weyrich stated that he didn't even recognize her because she was walking on her own and she had a smile the width of her face. She yelled at the Dr. and said "I came back to give you a hug, I can now see to walk on my own, I can see a bus, I can now see my friends and relatives, ---I CAN NOW GET A JOB"  Wow, everyone had tears of joy. This lady was worth all of the trouble and expense of the entire trip. PRAISE GOD!

This young girl said she had been noticing her vision has slowly gotten worse and that she could only see to read if she held the reading material at about 5 inches. Now she can see again. She could not quit saying, "I can see you, I can see you, wow, I can see you

The gentleman below approached Dr Weyrich when the mobile clinic arrived in Lambunao. "I have been blind in my left eye for years from an accident while working in the sugar cane fields and now I can hardly see out of my good eye now. Can you help me?" Dr. said, go over that table and register and I will see you. About 3 hours later, he came through the line and look at the smile on his face and you determine if you think he was helped by his new bifocal lens.

This little girl really tugs at your heart. She was born with an undeveloped left eye, a cleft pallet, her fingers and toes were grown together and her teeth were not developed correctly. To top it off she had limited vision with her good eye. Dr. Weyrich determined that with prescription eyeglasses her right eye could be corrected to 20/25.

RESULTS OF PREVIOUS VISION MISSIONS:

Gladys, a 4th grader that couldn't read the big E on the Chart standing only two feet in front of it. She had to come back in tears to hug and thank the doctor after receiving her glasses of -9.50 power each eye. Everyone got a good cry.

Irene, a first grader, was found to have 20/800 Vision. This means that what a person with normal vision can see at 800 feet, she would have to get up to 20 feet to see it. She could not see the board in school. Dr. put her prescription in a trial frame and she got so excited about being able to see, she did not want to give the trial frames and lenses back. She wanted to wear them. Ellen took her by the hand and went to the dispensary and found a pair of glasses for her and her smile tells it all. She received a Rx of -7.00 Diopters each eye.

The Little girl below has exotropia right eye. Notice how her right eye is looking to the right while her left eye is looking straight ahead. She was quite farsighted. After receiving her prescription eyeglasses, notice that both eyes are in alignment.

Below is a small boy with accommodative esotropia (very farsighted so when he focuses to see well, his eyes turn in) with high plus lenses he doesn't have to focus at distance to see and his eyes do straighten out.

This young lady below came in wearing spectacles that were too weak and broken. They were replaced with a stronger Rx around -11.00 D that had thinner high index and anti reflection coated hard resin lenses. She was so happy that she cried like a baby for about 5 minutes.

Below is a child with a lid infection that was given medication to resolve the condition. The other picture is a young lady who came  because she couldn't see at distance. She had never worn spectacles before. Her unaided vision was 20/600 both eyes. She now  can see clearly again.

While in the Barangay Bacong  a first grade teacher brought in Grace who was one of her students. Grace couldn't see the board nor could she see to read. She had never had never seen a eye doctor before. Her eyes were also crossed. Her condition fooled the auto refractor but not the doctor. Dr. determined that she had Accommodative Esotropia. A retinascope was used to determine to refractive error which was a huge +9.00D right eye and +8.75D left. After finding a pair of glasses with her prescription she became elated when she could see at near and distance. With her new glasses her eyes straightened out quite a bit. Her left eye still turns in a little but she still very happy. She returned later that day with her mother who was so moved by the change in her daughter that she said that she had never seen Grace have a smile that big. Her mother, who was also very farsighted, also received and eye examination and glasses and was in tears when she left and made a point to thank each and every volunteer.

Below is a Joel, from the rice fields of Barangay Pacol, who was twelve, who came in with his mother. He had a total corneal scar on his right eye with no vision and stated that he couldn't see the board with his left eye. He could see at near, but had to hold things near his nose. He had never had an eye exam before Dr. Weyrich determined that he needed a - 6.25 -4.50 X 95  left eye. It is too bad that all of you could not experience the pure joy of witnessing someone being able to see at distance for the first time.

Not too long after the little boy was seen, the very same day a 7th grade girl came through the  line who had micro ophthalmus (extremely small eyes). She also had never seen an eye doctor before. Her right eye had a cyst as well and had no vision, her left eye however was a little larger than the right eye, but was still very, very farsighted because smallness of the eye. Dr. determined her prescription and now she can see considerably better at far and at near, something she has never been able to do in her life. You can see by her expression how she felt the minute she received her glasses.

Patients like these are the ones who motivate EyeCare WeCare Foundation Volunteers to keep wanting to serve again. It is very addictive, the more you serve, the more you want to serve. We would encourage any of you that view this website, if you feel called to contribute to this worthy cause volunteer with the foundation, please contact us.

Send mail to info@eyecarewecare.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 06/11/11