Just over one month ago, we conducted diabetes screening in three different villages. UK nurses from Camps International identified three individuals who had cataracts. The first of these individuals came into Siem Reap on Tuesday 14th of January. Within an hour she had had her eyes examined, was prepped for surgery and happily walking off towards the operating theatre. The next day she was excitedly telling me 'at chaba' (that's how it sounds anyway...) which means that the eye she was pointing to wasn't blurry any more. She wanted to have the second eye operated on right away but the doctor has told her that she will have to wait until the cataract is ready for the operation - in about one year.
Thank you to the staff at Fred Hollows eye hospital in Siem Reap!
It may not be really obvious from the photo, but this is a very happy couple now that she can see clearly again. No doubt when she returns to her village today, the news will spread like wildfire and the two men who were also invited to come to have their operation, will be contacting us soon. along with others that we didn't see during screening.
The total cost of bringing the husband and wife into Siem Reap, staying in the hospital for two nights, return trip home and food for both of them was less than $50. Cost depends on how long they have to stay, how far they have to come, whether they have a family member with transport (as this couple did - we only paid for the petrol not the driver) but costs shouldn't vary very much.
Compared to costs in industrialized countries, this is a small amount but $50 is almost two months' salary for someone working on the land.
If you would like to sponsor someone to regain their sight, please donate via paypal and mark your donation "cataract operation" or contact us to make a donation directly to our bank account.
We left Cambodia on 13th December after an amazing trip. We stayed in Camp Beng Mealea for the first week sleeping in longhouses, with a composting loo and a generator for electricity and went out each day by minibus to rural schools and clinics. Any healthcare was so much appreciated by the local people, they waited in the sun for hours to be seen, no one complained and everyone had a smile for us. They are very poor people but with no NHS have to pay for any medication prescribed. The children we visited in their schools and taught them hand washing and how to brush their teeth, most had never owned a toothbrush before. The Diabetic Team screened anyone who turned up, many with high blood sugars, so we took the time to give nutrition advise and also to check their feet. They were also offered glasses and suddenly found they could see properly for the first time in ages. Smiley happy people. It makes you very humble to work with these lovely people. Robert helped build walls for the teachers accommodation at Beng Mealea school and also painted some walls at an orphanage in Siem Reap.
The glasses collected at Holbrook Surgery, friends and from Boots are now on their way to Siem Reap in Cambodia. A huge thanks to Boots for their help in organising prescriptions to be put on each pair, packing them up and arranging DHL to collect and freight them out to Cambodia. I am hoping that we will be able to see some of them being fitted while at the clinics.
This morning I completed my swim, 4,360 lengths of the Pavilions pool in Horsham. 68 miles = the distance between Holyhead, UK and Dunlaoghaire, Ireland. I started on 10th May so am please to say I have done it in 3 months, with work, family commitments and everything else. It brings the trip of going to Cambodia closer, so I am now waiting to see what our man in Cambodia, "Al " says the money raised can be used for. Thanks to everyone who has supported me by donating so far, and if you havnt and would like to, please visit our website or drop into Holbrook Surgery, or mail me.
This week I have had to replace my swimming cossie and hat as they have disintegrated due to the chlorine in the pool! Goodness only knows what its doing to my skin!
I have now completed 4,061 lengths of the pool so only 299 to go, that 3 short visits to the pool!
More sponsorship money has come in to the surgery and on this website, and lots more prescription glasses. I have made a contingency plan to share out the glasses amongst the group otherwise I will have excess luggage!
So thanks to everyone who has supported me.
Since the County Times covered our trip to Cambodia we have had an amazing response. Lots more money and prescription glasses have come into the surgery and more via this website. i have also been contacted by the Practice Nurse Journal who would like a short article about our trip to publish and on our return another one! This is most encouraging as it will reach thousands of Practice Nurses all over the country so hopefully it will inspire them to do a similar challenge!
So far I have swum 3,602 lengths of the pool and only have 758 left before I reach Dunlaoighaire in Ireland!! Please continue to sponsor me.
This week the County Times , Horsham wrote an article and put a short video about our trip, and also put a link from their website to this one. Since then we have had a lot of donations. We have collected lots of Rx glasses to take out and now I need to see if someone in Boots or Specsavers would sort out the Rx of the glasses to make the fitting easier. The swim is going well and i am now up to 3,131 lengths of the pool.
Today we met up with a photographer and reporter from the County Times. We explained where we are going and why I am swimming the distance from Holyhead to Dunlaoghaire. Monies raised will go towards some medical equipment and hopefully towards a vehicle to get nurses and doctors out to rural clinics.
I have now swum 2, 663 lengths of the pool so am getting slowly to my target of 4,360! Thanks again to all those who have sponsored me.
Had a busy week so swam on Wednesday and Friday , then went to Norfolk to stay with family. Plan to swim on Wednesday again this week. Thanks to all those who have made donations.
RSS Feed