Alberto’s Turn To
See
In the summer
of 2001 11-year-old Alberto and his mother Marquetta sought help from Operation
Blessing during it’s 2-week medical mission in Baja. It was determined
that the boy’s left eye needed a new cornea. Unfortunately, the supplies
weren’t available for him to receive surgery. Given a diagnosis card,
Marquetta held on to it hoping Operation Blessing would return some day
with an ophthalmologist and be able to assist her son. See what has happened
over time!
Over the last year-and-a-half
Marquetta never stopped trying to find help for her son’s weakening
sight. Her search intensified when Alberto lost the vision in his eye. Then
she received the exciting news that a team of Operation Blessing medical
professionals was coming to the rural town of Vicente Gurrero. A team of
less than twenty volunteers would be helping its poor by conducting a general
medical clinic, giving reading and prescription glasses, performing cornea
transplants as well as cornea and crossed eye surgeries!
Last week an elated mother and son made the journey and slept on the
street waiting for their turn. In the morning, Alberto held onto the now
tattered diagnosis card as he went into see the ophthalmologist. He was
quickly cleared to receive one of six scheduled cornea surgeries! Late
Wednesday afternoon he came out of the operating room with a good report
from Dr. Eanes and his surgical team. In the next few weeks Alberto’s
vision will go from cloudy to clear, changing his outlook on life forever!
This young boy has received one of over 1,000 medical services given
to the Mexican people in the last week. Working in four locations, this
volunteer team has fitted hundreds with glasses, helped over 100 with
general medical needs, given out numerous prescriptions and helped more
than thirty patients gain sight after having successful eye surgery. Mission
leader Dwight Lohrenz has observed with happiness that due to being in
this agricultural community during the winter season, they are seeing
entire families coming to the clinic instead of women and children.
Operation Blessing couldn’t do this alone. Three miles from the
Pacific Ocean and 178 miles south of the U.S./Mexican border, partner
Foundation For His Ministry opened its medical clinic as well as some
of its housing for our use. In appreciation, the dedicated team gave up
their normal day of relaxation and treated the foundation’s staff
on Sunday afternoon. Early Monday morning, they were ready to begin the
second week of bringing healing to Mexico’s sick and hurting.
This week promises to be fulfilling! Thank you for your help in enabling
Operation Blessing to conduct this medical mission.
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