We have been very fortunate to have a short term vision specialist come to Georgia. We have spent the last month lining up opthamologists and eye clinics for them to visit on there 2 days here (March 31 & April 1st) So they spend the 2 days interviewing eye doctors and touring their clinics. Then they return to Utah were they compile their information and make a recommendation for a vision project - usually involving training and equipment to be donated to a clinic to help the poor people in Georgia with eye problems. Here is a picture with our specialists, Roger & Bev Harrie (delightful couple - had a great time with them!) and our first doctors.
The first thing Bev noticed when she met E.. Reese was the red spot on his lower eyelid. She pointed it out to her husband and after interviewing the first doctor, he asked if he could use his machine to take a look at E. Reese's eye! So we all watched as he took a close look! All he needed was to use a hot compress twice a day and put in some drops, which the doctor quickly got for us. (he has faithfully done the above and his eyelid is now normal again!)
After seeing the clinic we had a few hours before our next appointment. They asked if we had a school for the blind. Mzia got on the phone and found the only one in Tbilisi. It's beautiful on the outside - but very old and run down on the inside. The teachers seem dedicated and the students well cared for. They did have some computers and we heard a teacher teaching singing to some boys - they even had a small stage for performances!
The School for the blind is trying to send a teacher to 'The Association for People in Need of Special Care' to learn to work with clay - thinking that would be really great for their blind students. So after visiting the school, we had time to go to home mentioned above. We found a delightful big home where there must have been about 25 mentally challenged young adults. We visited the kitchen where they were happily doing the dishes and cleaning up after lunch. Then we went to a big room with tables set up where several were folding paper to make notebooks. They were filling an order from a business. They were a very happy group. Then we went upstairs to a room where they were taking Georgian wool - cleaning it, dyeing it, and shaping it into different items to sell at there Easter Fair. On to another room where the clay sculptures were on display and we talked to the teacher about how she would teach blind students - amazing. We were thinking we were done when she took us outside to another building where a little rowdier group were making candles. Many had down syndrome - so of course we were deeply moved as we thought of Courtney and what a great place this was. They taught social skills and creating things - building self worth. What a great place! Now to see if there is something we can do to help them.
We visited several more clinics. There is a lot that can be done here - and many good doctors that would like to be involved with our charity. I'm glad that I don't have to make the final decision for the project!
We finished off their stay with a traditional Georgian feast. They start with cheese and meats and breads and then they just keep bringing out food. We cautioned our friends to pace themselves! During the meal they have lots of toasts. Everyone gets involved - toasting mostly to family and friendships!
This was one of the last dishes - full of sausages and meat. Behind the candle you can see the Khinkali - a big meatball wrapped in dough and boiled in water - one of our favorites. The pancake looking thing on the plate is a cornbread the E. Reese really likes.
We look forward to seeing Roger and Bev in about 6 months to finish the vision project for Georgia!
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