Let the Screening Begin

This was a very busy week.  Did we say we were busy?  We were very busy! 

Monday began with a trip to Orasje.  Orasje is a village at the Bosnian/Croatian border.  In fact it is the border crossing of choice for us.  We went to Orasje to distribute more garden seeds.  We say seeds, but we are really giving them seed potatoes, onion sets, fertilizer and pesticides.  We drove to one ladies home and her neighbors came with wheelbarrows to pick up their seeds. 

 

 

 Most of the people who received seeds were what they call "returnees".  During the war they were driven from their homes.  They have since returned and are starting over.  Their homes were destroyed and burned to the ground.  They have had to rebuild them.  Add to that the high unemployment rate and drought which they experienced last summer and there you have it.  It is truly a pleasure to be a part of helping people to help themselves.

While we were in Orasje we stopped to visit a gentlemen who had received a wheelchair as part of a Church wheelchair distribution before we came.  After each wheelchair distribution we try to interview at least 5 recipients and get feedback on how the chair is working for them.

Tuesday we took one set of elders (Elder Compton and Quinn) with us to a ceremony at the University Klinical Center Hospital in Tuzla.  Prior to the ceremony we stopped in at the children's ophthalmology clinic to see if we could take some pictures of children having their vision screened using the materials which we have had printed and made.  No such luck, but Elder Compton got his eye checked as did Gary.  Both have new prescriptions.  Elder Compton got one for contacts and Gary got one for reading glasses.  Susan and Mersiha already had their eyes checked and their glasses are being made.  After the short detour, we went to the newborn unit.  The Humanitarian department was able to purchase a C-Pap machine for babies who are born with breathing problems. 

After the ceremony we were able to go the another department in the hospital. The Rehabilitation department has very modern and up to date equipment, but they are short on wheelchairs.  We talked with the director and then he gave us a tour of his department.  Susan recognized several of pieces of equipment from when she has had physical therapy following surgeries or other injuries.  You can bet she talked to him about something for the arthritis in her feet.

Thursday was the first day of the vision screening in the schools.  Of course as we were on our way to visit the schools we received a few phone calls about challenges, but all got worked out and we felt that everything went fantastic.  The screening volunteers really enjoy their work.

 

 

 

 

Each school which we visited with had their own way to do the screening.  The best part was by Friday afternoon the doctors at the University Klinical Center had already seen their first patient who had been referred to them because of the screening and another one had called for an appointment.  We have been told that before the war that vision screening was mandatory for all children.  We are so glad that after 20 years it has started again.  This has been a big job and we could not have done it without the support of the Red Cross, the Ministry of Education, Institute of Public Health, the doctors at the University Klinical Center, our vision specialists from Salt Lake and our translator Mersiha who helped us put things together.

 

 

 

  

We can not say goodbye for the week without a little bit of grandparent bragging.  This little guy will be 3 months old.  At least he will still have that cute little dimple when we finally get to meet him.

 

 

And this handsome young man turned 7 Saturday, April 13, 2013.  His name is Daniel Mason Court.  He lives in Raymond, Alberta, Canada.  He is in grade one.  He is great helping his Mom and Dad with his younger brothers.  He a one dynamite hockey player and he has learned to read.  He is our favorite 7 year old.