The Dedication

When the EyeCare Kenya team arrived at the clinic, the people of Kipkarin had already encircled the clinic and they were singing and clapping. David called Doc into the center of the circle and unveiled a hole in the ground and a tree. The type of the tree escapes me, but the story behind the tree is that it is the hardiest tree in Kenya, it is also the most expensive, and it is actually illegal to cut these trees down. “The tree will stand forever,” said David, “So years from now you can bring your children here to see it, your grandchildren, even your great-grandchildren to see the tree that you planted that stands in front of the clinic that you built.”

Doc planted the tree with Julius, the man responsible for running the eyecare clinic day-in and day-out after she leaves.

In Kenya, the power of the elders is highly regarded. So, David asked the Grandfather of the family from Cedar Rapids to anoint the clinic. He poured blessed oil in front of the doorstep and said a beautiful prayer for healing.

With that, a plaque honoring Dr. DeAnn Fitzgerald was unveiled to grace the entryway.

This clinic was dedicated to the glory of God by

Dr. DeAnn Fitzgerald on September 30, 2007.

We treat. God heals.

A piece of twine was stung across the doorway to this clinic, just as it had been strung across the entryway to Kipkaren one day earlier. Doc cut the fraying rope and took the last step of the Kipkaren destination. The clinic was open. It was time for treatment to begin.