Regal Eyes
Watching regal street processionals have always been a great part of US television news history. Partly since the US does not have a monarchy and we are always interested in the events taking place around the world. The foreign royal subjects usually stand outside of the palace, along the banquettes, and wait for a glimpse of the family inside of the royal coach that soon will pass. The subjects will wave flowers, handkerchiefs, and banners as royalty pass along the roadside. The monarch will simply just nod their head and give a simple wave of hello to the passers-by. There is a certain definition of nobility and elegance that can only be defined by royalty ever. Royalty step purposefully mature, from the edge of the coach to the entrance of the palace always. The royal entourage goes in before and after the monarch to make sure that each step of the way is carefully mapped out along the way.
The volunteer ophthalmology coordinator comes out of the ship, down the gangway, and over to the admissions tent to greet their next patient. The salutations are exchanged, and with the highest cordiality our eye patients are guided up into the ship one by one, sometimes two by two. They are about to experience one of the most transforming experiences of their lifetime. Down on Deck 3, at the very bow of the ship you will find a medical office filled with other patients awaiting the final examinations, and medical overview before entering the operating room.
The eye patients sit on a park bench near the entrance into the operating room at the bottom of the red stairs, and await the call to go into receive their miracle. In less than ten minutes they are sitting back on that very same park bench to be escorted back into the recovery room. Their eye is bandaged and shoes placed back on, and walked over to the recovery room. Naturally some are a bit nervous and quiet during this process. And others are smiling from ear to ear, ready to say hello to anyone who passes by. They wait in the recovery area for mere moments and rest from the procedure.
After the recovery time, like an African royal procession the eye patients are lead out of the ship, and down the gangway onto the dock. They are lead by the hand and take careful watchful steps down the gangway. At each step the eye patients look up and see the ship, cars coming into the port, and the people sitting out on the admissions area. The only thing that is missing to truly title this regal moment is a royal red carpet because they are already waving their hands to greet the public down below. At the bottom of the steps the people await the final descend of our eye patients. Anyone who needed to go up the stairs while our patients are walking down must now simply wait to the side until they have reached the dock. At the admissions tent they await the transport vehicle to take them to their accommodations at the hospitality center or home.
Now are our eye patients royal? Most likely they are not, but there is the essence in the character of the senior citizens of Africa. Seniors citizens in the community are respected even though they may not be able to be contributors to the household. Most of the people that come for surgery wouldn’t be able to afford it without the assistance of the medical missions’ team. The screenings, examinations, surgeries, and medications are absolutely free on this ship. Thanks to the generous contributions of all the donors all over the world. By the way, the transport, door to door service, and lodging (meals inclusive) while staying at the hospitality center is also totally free to the patients too.
In a couple of days the eye patients return to the ship or one of our local eye clinic sites to have their eye bandages removed, followed by a second appointment in four to six weeks. This is momentous time to witness, as the eye bandages have been removed and our patients can see again; the once fuzzy focus now can now be a zoomed-in clear focal point. They can see again! Sometimes the patients cry. Sometimes they want to dance, and dance they shall. Every Friday between the eye evaluations, and eye glass refractions, the drum begins to beat and the hips shake. The seniors sit on the benches with their Blues Brothers style shades on, and tap their toes until they have officially warmed up. By the second song, every patient, yovo, and visitor begins to dance. Testimonies are shared as to how they once were so blind, and at an emotionally dismal state, but the story has a transforming forever life changing happy ending. The patient’s story that particular day concludes often with a great ending that states, ‘I once was blind, but now I can see.” After the words are shared, the dancing almost never ends. The entire group goes from one praise song to the next, to the next, to the next… A joyous participatory full cinemascope style site to behold, their life story has will only continue.
The volunteer ophthalmology coordinator comes out of the ship, down the gangway, and over to the admissions tent to greet their next patient. The salutations are exchanged, and with the highest cordiality our eye patients are guided up into the ship one by one, sometimes two by two. They are about to experience one of the most transforming experiences of their lifetime. Down on Deck 3, at the very bow of the ship you will find a medical office filled with other patients awaiting the final examinations, and medical overview before entering the operating room.
The eye patients sit on a park bench near the entrance into the operating room at the bottom of the red stairs, and await the call to go into receive their miracle. In less than ten minutes they are sitting back on that very same park bench to be escorted back into the recovery room. Their eye is bandaged and shoes placed back on, and walked over to the recovery room. Naturally some are a bit nervous and quiet during this process. And others are smiling from ear to ear, ready to say hello to anyone who passes by. They wait in the recovery area for mere moments and rest from the procedure.
After the recovery time, like an African royal procession the eye patients are lead out of the ship, and down the gangway onto the dock. They are lead by the hand and take careful watchful steps down the gangway. At each step the eye patients look up and see the ship, cars coming into the port, and the people sitting out on the admissions area. The only thing that is missing to truly title this regal moment is a royal red carpet because they are already waving their hands to greet the public down below. At the bottom of the steps the people await the final descend of our eye patients. Anyone who needed to go up the stairs while our patients are walking down must now simply wait to the side until they have reached the dock. At the admissions tent they await the transport vehicle to take them to their accommodations at the hospitality center or home.
Now are our eye patients royal? Most likely they are not, but there is the essence in the character of the senior citizens of Africa. Seniors citizens in the community are respected even though they may not be able to be contributors to the household. Most of the people that come for surgery wouldn’t be able to afford it without the assistance of the medical missions’ team. The screenings, examinations, surgeries, and medications are absolutely free on this ship. Thanks to the generous contributions of all the donors all over the world. By the way, the transport, door to door service, and lodging (meals inclusive) while staying at the hospitality center is also totally free to the patients too.
In a couple of days the eye patients return to the ship or one of our local eye clinic sites to have their eye bandages removed, followed by a second appointment in four to six weeks. This is momentous time to witness, as the eye bandages have been removed and our patients can see again; the once fuzzy focus now can now be a zoomed-in clear focal point. They can see again! Sometimes the patients cry. Sometimes they want to dance, and dance they shall. Every Friday between the eye evaluations, and eye glass refractions, the drum begins to beat and the hips shake. The seniors sit on the benches with their Blues Brothers style shades on, and tap their toes until they have officially warmed up. By the second song, every patient, yovo, and visitor begins to dance. Testimonies are shared as to how they once were so blind, and at an emotionally dismal state, but the story has a transforming forever life changing happy ending. The patient’s story that particular day concludes often with a great ending that states, ‘I once was blind, but now I can see.” After the words are shared, the dancing almost never ends. The entire group goes from one praise song to the next, to the next, to the next… A joyous participatory full cinemascope style site to behold, their life story has will only continue.
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