Saturday, November 16, 2013

" Together Everyone Achieves Miracles"

There are so many people that helped to make this project a success.  TWECS would like to thank them and recognize them for their efforts.

For arranging our airfare and accommodations, we thank:
Robyn Bentley of Personal Travel Management, Vancouver BC
our preferred travel partner
Bruna of Cometa Travel, Quito Ecuador

For donating therapeutic medications, we thank:
Kathy Hughes, Alcon Canada

For organizing the project sites, we thank:
Juan Prinz
Luis Salazar
Club Rotario Occidente
Club Rotario Quito Equinoccio
Club Rotario Macas, Morona Santiago

For help with the paper work for Ministry of Health, we thank:
Mr. Etienne V. Walter, Consulate of Ecuador in Vancouver
Mr. Diego Benitez, President of Fundación Vista Para Todos

Thank you TEAM ECUADOR for your selfless dedication and sacrifice to serve those less fortunate.
In 7 clinic days with 36 hours of bus riding 2000 km through the Andean, Amazonian and Coastal region of Ecuador, our team served 3386 patients and provided 2235 pairs of glasses.
Thank you to all our friends and family for your generosity, support and prayers.





The Beautiful Country of Ecuador

 We were fortunate on this project to see so much of Ecuador.  It is truly a beautiful country.  We were able to travel to the Andes, the Amazon and the coastal region.  Below are photos of Ecuador.











The Faces....our inspiration

These are some of the faces that inspire us to return again.  They thanked us with their smiles, their hugs, their kisses, their tears and their blessings.  They remind us that these are not just eyeglasses, they are a chance to work for your family, a chance to learn and a chance to walk on your own without being led around.













THE LINE UPS JUST FOR A PAIR OF EYEGLASSES










OUR VOLUNTEERS AT WORK........

Doug Higginson at Visual Acuity Station-Where we assess  the distance vision

Rodger Konkle at Registration where we determine the chief complaint

Doreen Erb at Registration

Austin Bellantoni at Visual Acuity

Sharyn Higginson at Visual Acuity Station


Tim Keenan at Autorefractor Station which gives an estimate of the prescription which will be refined by the Optometrists.

Delaney Querns at Dispensing-where we find the perfect pair of eyeglasses to match the prescription written by the doctor and fit them properly on the patient

Katie Stortz at Dispensing---Katie was very innovative-a patient had very different prescription in each eye.  Katie took the left lens from one set of glasses, the right lens from another set of glasses and put them together in one frame and voila...a very happy patient!

OUR DOCTORS AT WORK...

Dr. Amy Bakelaar performing Retinoscopy

Dr. Carl Durand performs Ophthalmoscopy

Dr. Annu Kaul and Dr. Allison Chang performing Retinoscopy in a makeshift room with black tarpaulin.

Dr. Rebecca Counts in Special Testing and Consult

Dr. Allison Chang with i-tester to refine prescription

Dr. John Lam performs retinoscoopy

Optometrists perform in a makeshift room held by two soccer goalie nets and black tarpaulin

Many of the patients get Dilated Fundus Examination