Leaving Cedar Rapids

The Kenya-bound EyeCare team is successfully en route and already there are stories to tell. Successfully toting 29 carefully packed bags and boxes of health care supplies, medicine, books and Iowa Women's Basketball Jerseys (Thank you Lisa Bluder), we gave the baggage handlers at the Cedar Rapids Airport a workout early this morning and a dose of travel drama too. British Airways--the carrier transporting this very excited crew from Chicago through London to Nairobi--has changed their baggage weight limits. This was an incredibly valuable piece of information that we learned about 2 hours before our flight. While American Airlines accepts packages up to 100 pounds, the new British Airways baggage weight limits accept no packages heavier than 70 pounds. We were able to shuffle the materials in 29 of the 30 different bags and boxes laying in the middle of the airport ticketing area to accommodate the new requirement. But there was one, there always is, one Goliath, one large piece of equipment that would not, could not, weigh any less than 113 pounds.

This unruly travel companion was the Lens Edger--a lens edger cuts lenses down to fit perfectly within each uniquely sized set of frames. Last year, the EyeCare Kenya team outfitted a new eyecare clinic with donated examination and diagnostic equipment. The stout lens edger was the piece of equipment missing from the Kenya clinic that would allow care-givers there to examine, diagnose, and then provide glasses to the people that needed them. Unable to take on the powers that be of British Airways from our Cedar Rapids post, we had to find an alternative shipping solution. I am happy to report that the lens edger will be arriving fashionably late in Eldoret, just two days behind the crew.

When asked to describe this year's launch, Doc just looked up from her book, with a big smile, and said, "Awesome!"

Signing off until Eldoret.
Team Kenya

Wow!!

Hi Everyone!! We just got through security in Chicago. A very long wait. But very much worth it!! We will arrive in Kenya 8:45PM Friday. This adventure has already started out very different and very fun. Having a computer in tow is very exciting. We are experimenting with what we will be able to do this trip. We are attempting to rally the troops and get a group shot in the Chicago international airport. 29 bags and boxes:) awesome. Sandy this is exciting we will probably be able to be ahead of your entry!! We are still working on downloading pictures!!

Expedition 2007

On September 27, 2007 to October 8, 2007 a selected team will embark on a second mission to Kenya, Africa. Not only will this be an optical mission, but also additional measures are taking place since last year, they are:

1. Grand opening of the Medical Wing we funded to be built in Eldoret that will not only supply our optical and laboratory equipment, but also an area that can be used by other short term medical mission teams throughout the years to come. This will not only give more access to visitors but also more accessibility to treat more patients since currently we have the equipment in a building that serves for everything except sleeping and eating.

2. Additional training and materials will be established for our native Kenyan, Julius and these materials will help him grow in the field of optomolgy.

3. A medical team consisting of Michele Burnes, and Sharon Dieter. They will provide basic medical care to the needed, along with training a native Kenyan to provide the basic medical treatment, such as blood pressure, vaccinations, etc…

4. Additional vision treatment, supplies and training given by Dr. Fitzgerald, Dr. Kingus, and Roy Brandt to the native Kenyans in villages of Eldoret and Kipkaren.

Over 15 Action Packers and equipment will be joining the Team, the following will be used during and supply the wing after the team leaves:

Grinder

Tape

Cases

Readers +2.50, +3.00, +3.75, +4.00

2 Ophthalmic Text Books

126 Ophthalmic Lens Blanks

Ophthalmic Drugs

Tobradex

Systane

Zaditor

Elestat

Alamast

Vigamox

Zymar

Betimol

Alphagan

Lumigan

Pred Forte

Xybrom

Xylatan

25 Dozen Plano Sunglasses

100 Ophthalmic Frames

12 pair each of Shark Eye Rx from -0.50 sph to -5.50 sph

Lensometer

Phoropter Stand

15 First Aid Kits

Salt Pan

2 Pumps

Lens Blanks

Sun glasses

Children Ophthalmic Frames

Phoropter Stand

Edger

Sterile Non-Adherent Pad- 100 per box (9 boxes)

Iodine Swabsticks- 50 sticks (1 box)

Sponges- 14 per box (10 boxes)

Elastic Bandage Roll (Ace Wrap)- 50

Non-sterile Gauze Sponges- 200 per box (10 boxes)

3” Surgical Tape – 4 rolls per box (8 boxes)

Bandaids- 50 per box (10 boxes)

Non-sterile Roll Gauze- 6 per box (5 boxes)

Round Bandaids- 200 per box (1 box)

Comfeel Hydrocolloid Dressing 8”x 8”- 5 per box (4 boxes)

Duoderm Extra Thin Dressing- 10 per box (3 boxes)

Thin Hydrocolloid Dressing- 15 total

Hyanosol Island Wound Dressing- 6 total

Small hydrocolloid Wound Dressing- 40 total

Low Profile Hydrocolloid Dressing- 40 total

Flexigel Hydrogel Pads- 5 large, 15 small

Thin Foam Dressing- 10 total

Thin Non-Adherent Dressing-10 total

Thin Small Non-Adherent Dressing- 10 total

Control Gel Formula Dressing- 20 total

Silvasorb- 3 total

Heel Dressing- 4 total

Surgical Drapes- 25 total

Surgical Towels- 5 per pack (2 packs)

Sterile Gloves- 15 pairs

Sutures- 490 per box

Sterile Saline Flushes- 10 total

Irrigation Trays- 3 total

Flush Bags- 3 total

Epbrine Flushes- 2 total

Bulb Syringes- 2 total

Lidacane Inject- 20 total

IV Starters- 7 total

Bacitracin Ointment- 2 bottles

1% Hydrocortisone Cream- 48 per box (10 boxes)

Protective Ointment- 90 tubes

Cavraklenz- 5 bottles

Construction Paper- 2 total

Crayons- 1000 total

Notebooks- 30 total

Pencils- 24 per box (6 boxes)

Pencil sharpener- 1 total

Scissors- 10 total

Stapler- 1 total

Eraser tops- 80 total

Glue- 9 tubes

Caltrate 600 Plus Chewables- 2 per pack (72 packs)

Children’s Non-aspirin Quickmelts- 500 total

Prevacid/ Naproxen- 15 boxes

Children’s Prevacid- 6 boxes

Adult Prevacid- 13 boxes

Bactrim (Sulfamethoxazole 800 mg & Trimethoprim 160 mg tablets)-500 tabs per bottle (2 bottles)

Amoxicillin- 500 per bottle (2 bottles)

Acetaminophen 325 mg- 1000 tablets

Benadryl 25 mg- 1000 caps

Ibuprophen 200 mg- 500 per bottle (1 bottle)

Amoxicillin chewables 125 mg- 100 tablets/bottle (17 bottles)

Lomotile (Loperamide hydrochloride 2 mg)- 100 caps/bottle (5 bottles)

Prilosec OTC- 30 tablets

Nexium 40mg- 5 caps/bottle (28 bottles)

Symbicort Inhalers- 13 inhalers

Antacand 4 mg- 7 tablets per bottle (37 bottles)

Benicar- 4 tablets per bottle (30 bottles)

Rhinocort Nasal Spray 32 ug- 8 bottles

Synthroid- 24 per box (7 boxes)

Paper towels- 11 boxes

50+ University of Iowa T-shirts and Jerseys from the Athletic Department

2 Laptop Computers

2 Sony Digital Cameras w/additional memory cards

Thank you all for your Support and Donations!

Flying Eldoret Airlines!!

Jambo!! No livestock in the runway but beautiful!! Zebras and firaffes from the air. They are very persuasive and want us to come back soon!! Very sweet people. All is well are now making our way home more pictures to follow in the near future keeping blogging on!! See you soon!! Dr. Fitz

Jambo!! from ilula kenya

(For pictures of our clinic in Ilula, click here.)

Jambo!! We saw people from the village this morning. It is amazing the feeling that comes over you when for the first time someone is able to see leaves on trees or their families from further away. Each day is a treasure hunt for the one person or child who can have their life change by one small action. Ester is 17 and had told her parents that she could not see. They heard we were here, news travels fast in the village, she came and we were able to fit her immediately with the correct prescription. She was very happy and the next day her Mum came to tell me that Ester was very happy and could see. Her Mum said that Ester was the brightest of all her 11 children and would be sitting for exams to see if she could enter higher education. She wants to go into medicine and maybe become an eye doctor!! The children here have great love.
We are loaded up for our trip to Kipkaren. There we will see at least 70 patients plus anyone who wants to be seen. This is the home of the equipment and glasses. Julius, our person we have been training is catching on very quickly. We loaded all the equipment in Adele's landover tonight and will leave at 6:15am.
It has been and will continue to be an adventure.
Truly, Life is a "get to" not a "got to". For those who know me I don't sleep much anyway but every night it is hard to go to sleep--I might miss something!!
A single action can move the world!!
Kwaheri (Good-bye for now)
Dr. Fitzgerald

eye exams ilula

Mzuri sana!! It was awesome!! While the children were in school we did exams on the staff and families. We saw 30 adults in the morning and we saw 65 children in the afternoon, so well behaved. They did very well. We will see adults in the am again tomorrow and the remaining children in the afternoon and we will bring back the children who need extra attention. Then we will pack up the equipment and go to Kipkaren on Wednesday and give the equipment its home. Julius, the young man we are training, has been like a sponge. It is all good.
Pictures to follow tomorrow. They all knew their abc's which was terrific. It has been awesome and well received. Good night Dr. Fitz :-)

Habari from Ilula near Eldoret, Kenya

Habari Iowa We arrived!! Our plane was in the landing position when suddenly we pulled up because of livestock on the runway!! They cleared and we landed. All of our equipment made it. A couple of boxes were miss labeled so we had to jerry rig a phoropter stand from plumbing supplies not pretty but it works. All the equipment works. The children are lovely and very active. In customs we had a little bit of a difficult time but we made it. They had issues with the equipment that I was understanding but if they would have denied the soccer balls we would have argued more vigorously!! Dr. Miller read stories and Lori showed them how to take pictures with her camera. Roy got the full tour of the grounds with the children all clamoring to hold his hand. They sang and danced for us and presented us with flowers. I played soccer with them and they were very kind and giggled all the way. We have spent the evening getting acquainted with the staff and families and set up equipment. Tomorrow we will do the exams and everyone is very excited. Tomorrow we will try to up load some pictures. The giraffes are vary friendly I was feeding one and it kissed me!! Tomorrow we will be doing what we came to do and we are excited!! Mzuri sana!! Very awesome!! (in swahili) See you tomorrow Dr. Fitz

Welcome

Welcome!
We are leaving for Eyecare Kenya on Sept 29. Join us often at this website to watch what will happen !! Thank you Dr. Fitz